HYPERTENSION CENTER
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The American Heart Association estimates more than 50 % of American adults have high blood pressure and a significant number of those don ’ t know it . The condition significantly increases the risk for heart disease and stroke . The Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) reports only one in four Americans diagnosed with hypertension has the condition under control using medication and lifestyle changes .
Over the past few years Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas has noted a significant increase in patients with hypertension . Most troubling has been the growing number of patients diagnosed with resistant hypertension , high blood pressure that does not respond to at least three medications . To help these patients manage their condition and return them to health , the hospital opened the Hypertension Center in fiscal year 2022 . The center is part of a larger initiative by the hospital to respond to the growing cardiovascular health needs of North Texans . The new center is seeking accreditation from the American Hospital Association as a Comprehensive Hypertension Center in fiscal year 2023 .
The Hypertension Center ’ s goal is to partner with patients diagnosed with resistant hypertension over a period of approximately 12 weeks to achieve normal blood pressure numbers by using risk factor modification through a collaborative approach among the patient , his or her primary care provider and the Hypertension Center care team . The center ’ s multidisciplinary care team includes cardiologists and nephrologists on the hospital ’ s medical staff , advanced practice providers and hypertension specialists . Using evidence-based guidelines , the care team works with patients to educate them about their condition and the most appropriate ways to control , manage and maintain their blood pressure . Depending on the patient ’ s condition and preference , a clinical pharmacist is available to independently consult with the patient during his or her first visit and provide counseling and medication management .
Resistant hypertension is defined by the 2018 American Heart Association scientific statement , by the 2017 American College of Cardiology ( ACC )/ AHA hypertension guidelines , and by the 2018 European Society of Cardiology and European Society of Hypertension ( ESC / ESH ) statement as blood pressure that remains above goal in spite of concurrent use of three antihypertensive agents of different classes . The goal of our center is to help patients “ get to goal ” within 12 weeks of referral .
The center is equipped with a wide array of on-site diagnostic testing . Patients receive a comprehensive evaluation from the care team to identify causes of their hypertension . The center ’ s care team continues to support the patient ’ s primary care provider in helping manage their resistant hypertension . A full reporting is made available to the referring provider .
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Patients referred in first 4 months
In addition , the care team accepts referrals for 24- hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to help providers exclude white-coat hypertension and identify masked hypertension .
For more information about the Hypertension Center : 214.820.7148 , HypertensionCenter @ BSWHealth . org .
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital - Dallas | Hypertension Center