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InfoClin Signs Contract with Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario

13th February 2007-

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
 
 
4/4/2006 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario (HSFO) continues to invest in the High Blood Pressure Strategy - an ongoing initiative to dramatically reduce the impact of hypertension - a major, often silent, risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
 
A substantial portion of this Strategy focuses on primary care provider management initiatives, including diagnosis, treatment and control of high blood pressure, strengthening interprofessional collaboration and supporting provider to patient interactions to better enable self-management.

InfoClin is assisting the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario roll out its High Blood Pressure strategy into physician offices which use electronic medical records.  InfoClin's unique expertise in primary care and electronic medical records allowed the Heart and Stroke Foundation get its High Blood Pressure reduction program rolled out into 10 Family Health Teams in Ontario in record time.
 
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Vision
To pave the way towards optimal blood pressure management that will result in a dramatic improvement in the future health of Canadians.
 
Background
High blood pressure is the number one modifiable risk factor for stroke and heart attacks. Based on the Canadian Heart Health Survey of 1992, it affects nearly 22% (about five million) of adult Canadians and 18% of Ontarians.
Among those afflicted with hypertension in Ontario, the statistics are alarming:
  • 28% are treated and controlled
  • 19% are treated and not controlled
  • 19% are not treated and therefore not controlled
  • A staggering 35% of those with hypertension are unaware of their condition
High Blood Pressure Strategy
Comprehensive 5-year plan that focuses on the three critical areas with the greatest potential for significant, long-term impact:
  1. Improving the management of hypertension by primary care providers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
  2. Investigation of emerging research issues in hypertension
  3. Study on the prevalence of hypertension in Ontario, with geographic and key ethnic group drill down
Provider Management Initiative
  • An innovative, inter-disciplinary approach to health care providers working in collaboration with key partners (OCFP, OPA, RNAO)
  • Goal: Optimal treatment and control of hypertension for Ontarians
  • Objectives: Improved provider practices in the diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension in patients. As well as Improved patient awareness, education and self-management
  • New educational opportunities that are designed to enhance physician, pharmacist and nursing approaches to high blood pressure detection and management (eg: educational sessions, toolkits, etc)
  • Action to address communication challenges between health care providers
  • Efforts to improve patient-provider interactions (including new patient resources where required) and patient adherence and self-management
  • Development of nursing best practice guidelines
The initial phase, partially funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, ends in June 2006. It includes 3 demonstration sites (Huntsville, Kingston and Toronto) that have worked with HSFO to test and refine the toolkit
The RNAO-HSFO nursing best practice guideline, Nursing Mangement of Hypertension was developed and launched in October 2005, as part of the MOHLTC funded initiative

The ToolKit involves
  • interdisciplinary healthcare provider workshops
  • BpTRUs, automated office blood pressure monitors
  • practice audit reports
  • High Blood Pressure Flowsheet designed to capture key data elements and integrate the 5As into practice
  • Rx Dx scripts
  • Lifestyle Counselling Sheets
  • Patient-Provider Partnership Agreements
  • Blood Pressure Action Plan (BPAP), an e-health tool developed with MOHLTC support

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