Feasibility of Referral of Patients with Elevated

Authors: Kell Julliard Craig Orvieto Allison Win Sam Sadler Basel AlHaddad Bonnie Simmons Laura Gabbe Julie M Pearson TomMeka Archinard

Publish Date: 2011/06/26

Volume: 37, Issue: 1, Pages: 159-164

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Abstract

Recent studies suggest that patients’ elevated blood pressure BP readings in the Emergency Department ED may be due to hypertension HTN rather than pain and anxiety Identifying BP patterns suggestive of HTN in the ED presents an opportunity for referral The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to assess the feasibility of referral of ED patients with elevated BP readings suggestive of HTN Adults with elevated BP suggestive of HTN and no history of HTN were tracked as to referral status using an actively monitored ED referral system Patients referred to a community clinic network were tracked regarding clinic visits subsequent BP and diagnosis of HTN Of 662 patients with elevated BP in the ED at triage 197 298 had a pattern of blood pressure readings that were suggestive of HTN Of these 63 320 were referred to innetwork clinics 5 25 were referred out of network and 129 655 were not referred Of the 63 referred to network clinics 17 270 kept their appointments and of those 5 294 were diagnosed with HTN Elevated BP was not mentioned in any ED physician referral notes as a reason for referral and the number of appointments kept among patients who were referred was low Referral to outpatient clinics based on BP levels suggestive of HTN may not be feasible despite active referral systems

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