It’s critical for all providers to follow the same protocol when caring for patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has supplied a template to help your practice to develop a protocol for controlling hypertension in adults.

atom Alliance encourages widespread adoption and use of standardized treatment protocols for improving blood pressure control. Simple, evidence-based treatment protocols can have a powerful impact in improving control by:

• clarifying titration intervals and treatment options,
• expanding the types of staff that can assist in timely follow-up with patients, and
• serving as clinical decision support at the point of care.

The CDC recommends the following elements be included for effective hypertension protocol:

1. Clarity and simplicity
2. Lifestyle modification
3. Treatment by stage of hypertension
4. Time interval to titration and reassessment
5. Use of low-cost first-line treatment
6. Exclusions and suggestions for medications based on concurrent medical conditions
7. Recommended lab tests
8. Reminder of the underlying causes of non-essential or secondary hypertension
9. Adherence-enhancing approaches such as fixed dose and/or combination drugs
10. Indications for referral to hypertensive specialist
11. Number needed to treat to avoid a clinical event
12. Supporting references
13. Congruent with current guidelines, including the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7)

Download the protocol template here.

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