title: Difficult Hypertension Clinic Utilizing a Nurse Specialist: A Cost-Efficient Model for the Modern Era?
abstract: In the modern era in New Zealand, there has been a lack of specialist hypertension clinics where family practitioners might refer patients with difficult-to-treat or resistant hypertension. A new specialist referral hypertension clinic was established in 2009 at North Shore Hospital, Auckland, employing a model of care where much of the follow-up work is done by a nurse specialist. The authors review data from the first 1000 patients discharged from the clinic. Mean (treated) blood pressure improved by -26/12 mm Hg over an average of three visits, two thirds of which were to nurse specialist clinics. The authors propose this as a cost-efficient model that could easily be duplicated in other centers.
authors.affiliation: Renal Service, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
authors.affiliation: Renal Service, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017311:Amlodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009520:New Zealand; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D017311:Amlodipine; D013148:Spironolactone