Sharpen your blood pressure skills to improve patient outcomes

The latest data shows that hypertension was a primary or contributing cause of close to 700,000 deaths in the U.S. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. (122.4 million) have hypertension but only 25.7% of adults with high BP have their condition under control. 

Controlling hypertension is the single most impactful intervention for preventing death from heart attack and stroke. That is why accurate and reliable blood pressure measurement is critical for the proper diagnosis and management of hypertension. So much so that a 5 mm Hg BP measurement error can lead to incorrect hypertension classification in 84 million individuals worldwide, according to a consensus document published in the Journal of Hypertension. 

Understanding the ways BP measurement can be inaccurate, and how to tackle errors, can improve diagnosis and management of hypertension.

To help, the AMA offers a continuing education series of short interactive modules and resources designed to help physicians and other health professionals quickly refresh and enhance their knowledge and skills on measuring blood pressure properly. The CME series, “AMA Measure BP Accurately,” is enduring material and designated by the AMA for a total of 1.50 PRA Category 1 Credit™. 

The series, described below, is part of the AMA Ed Hub™, an online learning platform that brings together high-quality CME, maintenance of certification, and educational content from trusted sources, all in one place—with activities relevant to you, automated credit tracking, and reporting for some states and specialty boards. Learn more about AMA CME accreditation.

1. In-office best practices for blood pressure

   1. This module is designed to refresh and retain the knowledge and skills required to ensure consistent and accurate BP measurement for in-office settings. To reduce errors in BP measurement, guidelines recommend physicians and other health professionals undergo retraining every six to 12 months.
   2. In this module, physicians and other health professionals will refresh their knowledge on the importance of accurate blood pressure measurement. They will also identify the different equipment used to measure BP, including the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
   3. Best practices for how to properly prepare and position a patient for BP measurement will also be presented. Participants will then be asked to recall the steps for BP measurements on manual, semi-automated and automated devices, and recall best practices for recording blood pressure measurement. 

2. Self-guided blood pressure training

   1. This self-guided training is designed to help physicians and other health professionals refresh and enhance their skills and knowledge in blood pressure measurement at their own pace. You can choose to take an assessment to receive content that meets your individual needs or opt to explore the practice exercises and supplemental resources most relevant to you.
   2. With tailored assessments, skills practice, knowledge checks and reference materials, physicians and other health professionals will stay current with the latest guidelines and best practices in BP measurement.

3. Best practices for self-measured BP 

   1. Self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) is a valuable tool for managing hypertension and improving patient outcomes, but its effectiveness relies on physicians and other health professionals being able to train patients on how to obtain and document accurate measurements.
   2. To address this challenge, physicians and their care teams need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to identify patients who would benefit from SMBP and train them to perform and document measurements accurately at home.
   3. This module provides comprehensive training on SMBP best practices so that physicians and other health professionals can partner with patients to facilitate accurate and reliable SMBP measurements to improve patient care. During this module, you will focus on the importance of SMBP and be able to explain the seven steps for identifying and training patients to accurately perform and document their BP readings.

AMA MAP™ Hypertension, an evidence-based quality improvement program that provides a clear path to significant, sustained improvements in BP control. With the AMA MAP program, health care organizations can increase BP-control rates quickly. The program has demonstrated a 10% increase in BP control in six months with sustained results at one year.

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