title: E-health blood pressure control program.
abstract: Both technological and human factors design requirements for integration of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) into a patient centered medical home (PCMH) model primary care practice are described. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension were given home blood pressure (BP) monitors, and after a three-month run-in period introduced to either a high-tech only (HBPM connectivity to personal health record and tailored Web portal access) or a high-tech/"high-touch" (high-tech solution plus patient navigator [PN]) solution. Features of the Web portal included: BP graphing function, traffic-light feedback system of BP goal attainment, economic incentives for self-monitoring, and dual patient-facing and care-team-facing dashboard functions. The e-health BP control system with PN support was well received by patients, providers, and the healthcare team. Current e-health technology and limited technological literacy of many patients suggest that a PN or some other personnel resource may be required for the adoption of patient-facing technology in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Abacus Health Solutions, 1210 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920, USA. dahern@theabacusgroup.com
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ahern
authors.forename: Lynda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Stinson
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Uebelacker
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wroblewski
authors.forename: Jerome H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Eaton
mesh_terms: D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020407:Internet; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012237:Rhode Island; D014584:User-Computer Interface