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Average Blood Pressure

From Michael Rakotz <Michael.Rakotz@ama-assn.org>


Hello  –

 

To improve standards for the capture and exchange of average blood pressure (ABP) AMA submitted data elements for APB to USCDI and those data elements were included in USCDI v2. We’re recruiting your help to promote ABP to USCDI v3, which is currently being drafted. We believe that including ABP in the USCDI would make it easier for physicians and other health care providers to diagnose high blood pressure and assess BP control more accurately.

 

There are two opportunities to comment in support at HITAC Interoperability Standards Workgroup calls March 15 and 22. If you or your partners can, commenting is a great way to demonstrate the need for a standard to record SMBP averages in EHRs.

 

More info on the call and submission follows. Thanks for your support.

 

 

Opportunities to comment: Tuesdays 3/15 and 3/22 at 10:30am EST. HITAC Interoperability Standards Workgroup meetings

  • Public comment is typically at the end of the meeting ~12pm.

    The Workgroup will send its comments to ONC on April 13th.

    Comment on the average blood pressure (ABP) data element with the ask that it be promoted from Level 2 to USCDI v3.

    Comments should include why ABP is needed in the USCDI, what gap it’ll fill, research showing its utility, and at least one use case.

    Stakeholders may also provide written comment on the USCDI Level 2 page under AMA’s original submission form.

 

AMA submission and support

  • AMA submission for inclusion in V3

  • Use Case:

    • Over 120 million adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Average blood pressure readings can guide the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

    • The 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults and the AHA 2018 Scientific Statement on the Measurement of Blood Pressure in Humans provide guidance recommending that to properly estimate an individual’s blood pressure: 

      • Office-obtained blood pressure measurement should include the average of 2 or more BPs obtained on two or more occasions

        For self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring, the average of all BP measurements obtained over >7 days of BP readings should be used.

  • Utility of promotion:

    • Including average blood pressure in the USCDI would make it easier for physicians and other health care providers to diagnose high blood pressure and assess BP control more accurately. Physicians need health IT systems that can store and exchange average BP, separate and apart from individual readings. This can help with documentation and enable physicians to use this specific information in their clinical decision making. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Community Health Centers agree with the AMA and support a standardized average blood pressure data element. Our organizations ask that the Interoperability Standards Workgroup include the Level 2 average blood pressure data element in its recommendations for inclusion in the USCDI version 3.