Hypertension Telemanagement in Blacks

Abstract
We propose evaluation of a multi-component home automated telemanagement system providing integrated support to both clinicians and patients in implementing hypertension treatment guidelines. In a randomized clinical study, 550 blacks with hypertension are followed for 18 months. The major components of the intervention and control groups are identical and are based on the current standard of care. For the purpose of this study, we define “standard of care” as the expected evidence-based care provided according to the current hypertension treatment guidelines. Although intervention and control groups are similar in terms of their care components, they differ in the mode of care delivery. For the control group the best attempt is made to deliver all components of a guideline-concordant care in a routine clinical environment whereas for the intervention group the routine clinical environment is enhanced with health information technology that assists clinicians and patients in working together in implementi...