Ascension awarded funding to implement improved hypertension management

Ascension, one of the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health systems, has been awarded funding by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to implement an improved evidence-based approach to hypertension management.

With this funding support, Ascension will implement a tiered team-based Care Model that introduces intensive telehealth hubs staffed by Advanced Practice Providers (APP). By using an integrated technology platform to conduct frequent virtual visits, Ascension patients with uncontrolled hypertension can receive the access to care they need by staying connected to their care team through a secure platform.

Ascension primary care physicians (PCP) will enroll eligible patients with uncontrolled hypertension into the program. Enrolled patients will receive APP-led frequent virtual visits incorporating patient education and engagement, self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP), and prompt medication titration under protocol to more closely monitor their health status and treatment compliance as an adjunct to care with their PCP. The program is anticipated to be offered to approximately 39,000 adults across 255 primary care sites within seven Ascension markets (states).

"This work is about bringing proven, evidence-based care models into everyday practice in a way that is scalable, accessible and centered around the patient," said Mohamad Fakih, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Quality and Safety at Ascension. "By combining primary care with virtual support and remote monitoring, we have an opportunity to intervene early, stay more connected to patients between visits and improve outcomes for those with uncontrolled hypertension."

This project will focus on improving hypertension management by implementing findings from PCORI-funded comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) showing the effectiveness of clinic- and telehealth-based models of hypertension care.

Ascension is a participant in PCORI's Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII) and was selected through a PCORI funding opportunity supporting HSII participants in advancing evidence-based practice.

"This PCORI funding award will support Ascension in delivering clinically meaningful improvements in hypertension management," said PCORI Executive Director Nakela L. Cook, M.D., MPH. "This project exemplifies PCORI's commitment to making the results of patient-centered CER more accessible and usable in real-world settings, helping patients, caregivers and the broader health care community make better-informed health care decisions and improve care delivery and outcomes. We look forward to following the project's progress."

The funding to Ascension has been approved pending completion of PCORI's business and programmatic review and issuance of a formal award contract.

PCORI is a nonprofit organization with a mission to fund patient-centered CER designed to provide patients and those who care for them with evidence to make better-informed health care decisions.