Hank Q1Q2-2021
See the whole issuePressure Drop
Drive-up hypertension clinic puts patients on road to recovery
Aparna Gulati, MD, was growing alarmed. Many African American patients with high blood pressure were missing their doctors’ appointments.
“Due to COVID-19 fears, many of our patients weren’t coming in for even a blood pressure check,” said Dr. Gulati, medical director of Chronic Conditions Management for the Greater Southern Alameda County area in Northern California.
“African Americans are at the highest risk for all kinds of morbidity due to hypertension.”
Nationally, more than 40% of African Americans have high blood pressure — a rate much higher than other racial and ethnic groups.
Like providers across Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Gulati is working to reduce the disparity. In November, she and her team collaborated with Coalition union members to host 2 free blood pressure fairs for African American patients with hypertension.
作为OPEIU Local 29的成员,收银员服务接待员给近2000名患者打电话,通知他们这个活动。SEIU-UHW的实验室工作人员也提供了他们的服务。
“Many of our patients have critical needs,” said receptionist Alexis Machado, who worked at both events. “They might have slipped through the cracks if they hadn’t shown up. They all seemed happy to be here and get their preventative screenings taken care of right then. It was very rewarding for me.”
Meeting patients’ needs
In all, 500 African American patients drove up to receive blood pressure checks. Flu shots, lab tests, mammograms and colorectal cancer screening kits also were available.
“We can both get our blood pressure checked without getting out of the truck,” said Kaiser Permanente member Tanya Leno, as she and husband William Leno drove through the outdoor event.
组织者对出席人数和结果感到兴奋。大约25%的高血压患者没有得到控制,需要调整他们的药物。他们还接受了后续预约。
“We used the opportunity to teach patients the importance of measuring blood pressure and keeping it controlled, investing in a blood pressure machine, and following up with their physician,” said Dr. Gulati. “Coming from a physician, it tends to stick more, and will hopefully increase awareness.”