Chronic Disease Management
iMPROve Health works with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to encourage physician offices to implement guidelines that can improve treatment and follow-up care for patients with hypertension and/or diabetes.
iMPROve Health teamed up with My Community Dental Centers to address the link between high blood pressure and oral health. Read the Oral Health and Hypertension Success Story!
Self-Measured Blood Pressure
Self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring is effective in reducing the risk of death and disability from hypertension (high blood pressure). Research has shown that, when combined with additional clinical support, SMBP helps reduce hypertension, increase patient knowledge, improve the health system process, and enhance medication adherence.
iMPROve Health is working with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to increase SMBP in clinical settings in the St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield metro areas.
iMPROve Health has recruited clinics to receive one-on-one assistance with implementing an SMBP program for at least 100 patients. This includes the creation of a blood pressure cuff loaner program, identification of patients eligible for SMBP, and workflow assistance in obtaining patient-reported data. Participating clinics have several requirements. Online resources are available.
Hypertension Summit
In June 2022, iMPROve Health hosted Getting to the Heart via Oral Health: A Medical and Dental Collaboration Summit to increase collaboration between oral health and medical providers to promote the identification and management of hypertension. The event featured national, state, and local speakers discussing the significant roles that both medical and dental healthcare settings have in screening for high blood pressure.
Slides:
- Getting to the Heart via Oral Health – iMPROve Health
- Keynote: Blood Pressure Control in the U.S. – Hilary K. Wall, MPH, Million Hearts
- Hypertension in Michigan: A Status Update for Oral Health Providers – Dr. Phillip D. Levy, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAHA, FACC, Wayne State University
- Dental Providers Breakout Session – Chris Farrell and Sandy Sutton, MDHHS
- The Importance of Hypertension Screening by Dental Providers – Lisa Knowles, DDS, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- Implementing Blood Pressure Screening in the Dental Setting – Part 1: MDHHS Perspective – Michele Kawabe, MPH, RDN, CDCES, MDHHS
- Implementing Blood Pressure Screenings in the Dental Setting – Part 2: My Community Dental Centers – Kimberly Singh, MA, CHES, My Community Dental Centers
- Storyboards
This event was supported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services with funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Improving the Health of Americans through Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Heart Disease and Stroke Grant CDC-RFA-DP18-1815.
