Hypertension Management Program (HMP) Toolkit

At a glance

The Hypertension Management Program toolkit is an online interactive training for a team-based, patient-centered, integrated care model.

Medical professional shaking hands with a man.

Purpose

CDC's Hypertension Management Program (HMP) is designed to help health care organizations:

  • Improve the quality of care for the patients they serve.
  • Reduce the number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Improve each patient's overall health and well-being.

Evaluations have shown the HMP to be effective in promoting hypertension control among patients in health care settings that serve populations at higher risk of hypertension. This includes patients without health insurance.

CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) developed a guidance document called the Hypertension Management Program Implementation Toolkit (HMP Toolkit). This toolkit gives health care organizations the information and resources they need to implement the HMP and improve hypertension control among their patients.

The online HMP Toolkit consists of interactive e-learning modules that guide users through the 10 components of the HMP program and prepares them to implementation it in their health systems. There is also a PDF version of the toolkit.

The HMP Toolkit provides:

  • An overview of the HMP, its 10core components, and suggestions for implementing the HMP in clinical settings.
  • Guidance to staff, administrators, and other health care professionals on how to implement and adapt the HMP for their unique clinical setting.

What's included

The HMP Toolkit features the following 10 modules:

Overview: This module will introduce you to the HMP Toolkit. As a health care organization, you'll find information and resources to help you implement the HMP and improve hypertension control among your patients.

Component 1: Integrated Care Team: This module will examine the role of each member of the integrated care team recommended by the HMP. It will also describe the knowledge, skills, and tools you need to:

  • Use the integrated care team to educate patients about managing their blood pressure.
  • Identify risk factors for hypertension.
  • Prescribe and modify treatments for hypertension.
  • Maintain an ongoing dialogue with patients about their health and care.

Component 2: Patient Registries and Outreach Lists in the Electronic Health Record (EHR): This module will examine patient registries. It will also describe the knowledge, skills, and tools you need to understand patient registries and how to use them to support HMP outreach.

Component 3: No-Copayment Walk-in/Scheduled Blood Pressure Checks: This module will explore the implementation of blood pressure checks that do not require a copayment.

Component 4: EHR Alerts for Blood Pressure Re-check: This module will examine the implementation of EHR alerts for blood pressure re-checks. It will also describe the knowledge, skills, and tools that your staff need to create and effectively use these alerts.

Component 5: Education for Nurses and Other Staff on Blood Pressure Measurement Technique: This module will explore the knowledge, skills, and tools you need to select a measurement technique for your health system. It will also describe the training needed to ensure that your staff can implement this technique consistently.

Component 6: Promote Use of Combination Medications to Treat High Blood Pressure: This module will examine the use of combination medications to treat high blood pressure. It will also describe the knowledge, skills, and tools that doctors and other clinical staff in your organization need to effectively promote the use of combination medications for high blood pressure.

Component 7: Hypertension Management Visits: This module will examine hypertension management visits and the knowledge, skills, and tools your clinical staff need to effectively implement these visits.

Component 8: Promotion of Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring: This module will describe the knowledge, skills, and tools you need to create a self-measured blood pressure monitoring program. It will also explain how to develop a process for patients to communicate their results to providers in your health system or clinic.

Component 9: Specialty Department Blood Pressure Measurements with Referral to Primary Care When Needed: This module will examine how specialists can be part of the HMP by conducting blood pressure checks and re-checks and referring patients to primary care when needed.

Component 10: Incentives, Rewards, and Recognition: This module will examine activities and considerations for incentivizing high-performing providers, staff, and teams. It will also describe the knowledge, skills, and tools that your organization's leadership and human resources staff need to effectively implement these incentives.

Resources

Download the PDF

Executive summary

The Hypertension Management Program aims to improve the quality and management of patient care and reduce the number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension. This executive summary describes a mixed-methods evaluation conducted to assess program implementation, facilitators and barriers, hypertension outcomes, and program implementation costs.