Meet the Hypertension Team: Collaboration in Action
According to the World Health Organization, less than half of adults with hypertension, or chronic high blood pressure, are diagnosed and treated. It is the leading cause of premature death worldwide.
“Blood pressure is an important health metric for a reason,” explains Dr. Mukund Gupta, an Adult Medicine physician at Lowell CHC. “It’s often a silent threat that can lead to devastating consequences, like a heart attack or stroke.”
Treatment requires consistent monitoring and a balance of medication and lifestyle adjustments. This can be especially challenging for patients experiencing chronic stress caused by economic insecurity, trauma, or other complex health and social conditions.
“Many of those we care for have already been through so much when they come through our doors. They are used to pushing through and ignoring their own health. It’s our job to let these patients know they’re not alone,” Melanie, Director of Nursing in Adult Medicine shares.
Maria’s doctor had told her that her blood pressure was higher than it should be. She missed an appointment or two when she was called into work at the last minute, but she took her medication and had given up many of her favorite salty foods. Except for the occasional dizzy spell, she felt fine. When she wasn’t working, she was caring for her aging mother, in addition to her three children. Her blood pressure would have to wait.
Our Adult Medicine Department knew addressing barriers faced by patients like Maria* would take bold action and teamwork.
With collaboration and persistence, our Hypertension Clinic model began to take shape. From the start, medical staff and Community Health Workers joined forces to provide consistent messaging and support, with an emphasis on building connections through multi-lingual outreach. Patients also received digital home blood pressure monitoring devices that link back in real-time. Between visits, Nurses and CHWs kept patients on track with home visits and phone calls.
When Maria arrived at the clinic, she was skeptical. She looked anxiously at her watch, worried about her mother who was home alone. As a nurse walked her through the instructions, she sensed Maria’s anxiety. The nurse motioned to Ismely, a Community Health Worker. “Would it be helpful to do a home visit,” Ismely asked in Spanish.
A week later, they were in Maria’s apartment, her mother comfortably eating lunch in the next room. Ismely admired the family photos decorating the walls and impeccably organized living room, then helped her take a reading using her home blood pressure monitor. It was surprisingly elevated. On the verge of tears, Maria revealed that she couldn’t afford her current apartment. The clock was ticking and she had exhausted all of her options.
Ismely encouraged her to relax. She listened carefully as Maria shared her frustrations. Ismely promised to follow-up in a few days with some new housing resources she hadn’t looked into yet.
Ismely asked Maria to take one more reading before she left. This time, it was much lower.
“When it comes to keeping patients engaged, a little goes a long way,” says Ismely. “Sometimes just having a conversation, in their own space and in their own language, can make all the difference.”
So far, the impact of the project is measurable. The majority of patients participating in the trial saw significant improvement in the levels and consistency of their blood pressure readings.
Life-saving programs like our Hypertension Clinic don’t just happen. YOU make them happen.
The needs of our patients are immense and complex. Solving them takes creativity and compassion. This work is crucial to the health and well-being of our community, but is often not covered by insurance. That’s where our Annual Fund comes in. Make your gift today!
*Name and story details have been changed to protect privacy.
