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Rural community hypertension control: The role of the clinic-based nurse hypertension counselor
ABSTRACTS:
HIGH
BLOOD
PRESSURE
143
CONTROL
A-45
NORTHWESTERN MUTUALAGENT BLOODPRESSURESCREENINGPROJECT John E. Caspari, End, M.D.
The Northwestern
Mutual Life
Insurance
Co., Milwaukee,
Wis.; JackA.
A kit telling Northwestern Mutual agents how to promote high blood pressuredetection and control was developed to help build awareness of the condition and to enhance the reputation of the company and its agents as being genuinely concerned with promoting good health. It included guidelines for arranging educational screenings where no community projects existed; a detailed model based on the Milwaukee Blood Pressure Program for communities that had reached the point of establishing a broad based detection and control organization, and the endorsment of the company medical director to help assure medical community confidence. It emphasized that agents use their organizational skills and community contacts to help medical officials with projects. It was felt that because agents are located in virtually every community in the U.S., their ongoing efforts could help to quickly broaden awareness and that regular update capabilities of the home office could keep agents at the forefront of perpetuating the experience and direction of The National High Blood Pressure Education Program. A survey of agent participation during the first year (1974-'75) helped make refinements based on experience. Although no measure can be made of the continuing project's exact impact on detection and control, company officials feel the project has made a significant impact on increased awareness of high blood pressure and has enhanced the reputations of its agents as being community minded and genuinely concerned with promoting good health. During the first year alone, 132 agents located in 38 states participated (many receiving widespread civic recognition in conjunction with local projects). By the end of 1977, the kit had reached as far as Australia (through the efforts of a Boyertown, Penn., agent) where it was adopted as a national project that screened several hundred thousand persons. A-46 RURALCOMMUNITYHYPERTENSIONCONTROL: THE ROLE OF THE CLINIC-BASH) NURSEHYPERTENSION COUNSELOR J. Chapin, Cabin Creek Medical R. Flint.
Center,
Dawes, WV 25054; R. Young; T. Baranowski;
A rural community hypertension control project has been developed and implemented, which revolves around the activities of a Nurse Hypertension Counselor (NIX) based in a rural primary care clinic. All aspects of hypertension control are addressed by the NIX, including detection, prevention, medical care, follow-up and long term maintenance. The NRC and a team of indigenous volunteers perform blood pressure screens at the predominant work sites in the area (coal mines) and in the community. For prevention, the NRC counsels those with moderately elevated blood pressures to The NHC lose weight, restrict salt intake, stop smoking and increase exercise. provides a full program of ~medical care under the direction of a strict medical protocol and under the supervision of the clinic's medical director. With the letter and assistance of a CETA employee, a vigorous program of phone calling, postcard follow-up is performed reminding screenees and patients to attend their to bring their medication bottles and other materials (as clinic appointments, A comprehensive appropriate), and to reschedule those with missed appointments. program of patient education including family involvement and self-blood pressure monitoring is implemented to promote long term maintenance of the medical regime. All these activities and how they are tailored to the local rural, single industry communities will be extensively described at the conference.
HIGH
BLOOD
PRESSURE
143
CONTROL
A-45
NORTHWESTERN MUTUALAGENT BLOODPRESSURESCREENINGPROJECT John E. Caspari, End, M.D.
The Northwestern
Mutual Life
Insurance
Co., Milwaukee,
Wis.; JackA.
A kit telling Northwestern Mutual agents how to promote high blood pressuredetection and control was developed to help build awareness of the condition and to enhance the reputation of the company and its agents as being genuinely concerned with promoting good health. It included guidelines for arranging educational screenings where no community projects existed; a detailed model based on the Milwaukee Blood Pressure Program for communities that had reached the point of establishing a broad based detection and control organization, and the endorsment of the company medical director to help assure medical community confidence. It emphasized that agents use their organizational skills and community contacts to help medical officials with projects. It was felt that because agents are located in virtually every community in the U.S., their ongoing efforts could help to quickly broaden awareness and that regular update capabilities of the home office could keep agents at the forefront of perpetuating the experience and direction of The National High Blood Pressure Education Program. A survey of agent participation during the first year (1974-'75) helped make refinements based on experience. Although no measure can be made of the continuing project's exact impact on detection and control, company officials feel the project has made a significant impact on increased awareness of high blood pressure and has enhanced the reputations of its agents as being community minded and genuinely concerned with promoting good health. During the first year alone, 132 agents located in 38 states participated (many receiving widespread civic recognition in conjunction with local projects). By the end of 1977, the kit had reached as far as Australia (through the efforts of a Boyertown, Penn., agent) where it was adopted as a national project that screened several hundred thousand persons. A-46 RURALCOMMUNITYHYPERTENSIONCONTROL: THE ROLE OF THE CLINIC-BASH) NURSEHYPERTENSION COUNSELOR J. Chapin, Cabin Creek Medical R. Flint.
Center,
Dawes, WV 25054; R. Young; T. Baranowski;
A rural community hypertension control project has been developed and implemented, which revolves around the activities of a Nurse Hypertension Counselor (NIX) based in a rural primary care clinic. All aspects of hypertension control are addressed by the NIX, including detection, prevention, medical care, follow-up and long term maintenance. The NRC and a team of indigenous volunteers perform blood pressure screens at the predominant work sites in the area (coal mines) and in the community. For prevention, the NRC counsels those with moderately elevated blood pressures to The NHC lose weight, restrict salt intake, stop smoking and increase exercise. provides a full program of ~medical care under the direction of a strict medical protocol and under the supervision of the clinic's medical director. With the letter and assistance of a CETA employee, a vigorous program of phone calling, postcard follow-up is performed reminding screenees and patients to attend their to bring their medication bottles and other materials (as clinic appointments, A comprehensive appropriate), and to reschedule those with missed appointments. program of patient education including family involvement and self-blood pressure monitoring is implemented to promote long term maintenance of the medical regime. All these activities and how they are tailored to the local rural, single industry communities will be extensively described at the conference.