ONC challenge looks to leverage health IT to curb hypertension

Laura Pedulli | | Health Exec | Precision Medicine

A new challenge launched by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is seeking out best health IT practices to reduce high blood pressure.

ONC’s EHR Innovations for Improving Hypertension Challenge is part of Million Hearts®, a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.

The challenge is looking for providers’ most effective evidence-based treatment protocols to guide the selection of effective therapies for blood pressure control. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 6 and winners will be announced on Oct. 28.

“Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and there are many healthcare providers who employ clinical decision support tools, like standardized treatment approaches or protocols to control hypertension among their patients. This challenge helps us find the best examples of those efforts and scale them up,” said Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, national coordinator for health IT, in a statement.

 

 

Laura Pedulli

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