PriMed honored for hypertension work

Physicians group finds new approach to treat high blood pressure.

PriMed Physicians is one of 30 health groups recently recognized nationally for its work in lowering patients’ hypertension,

PriMed Physicians is one of 30 health groups recently recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its work in lowering hypertension in patients.

The independent medical group, which has more than 20 locations in the Dayton area, was chosen as a Hypertension Control Champion by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Million Hearts initiative for its success in helping patients control high blood pressure.

PriMed employs about 55 physicians and operates primary care and specialty physician offices in Greene, Montgomery and Warren counties.

“The recognition is a nice blip on the radar screen, but truly seeing healthy and happy patients not suffer from heart attacks and strokes is much more meaningful,” said Dr. Douglas E. Romer, director of quality initiatives and care redesign at PriMed Physicians.

Montgomery County has higher rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes than the state and national averages, according to a 2014 Montgomery County health department report.

“What we do know is that far too many people in Montgomery County are unhealthy,” said John Steele, spokesman for Public Health — Dayton & Montgomery County.

Faced with increasing heart disease among its patients, PriMed decided 10 years ago to change its approach to treating hypertension by focusing on quality control.

Quality control and theory isn’t something typically associated with physician care, and it isn’t something taught in medical school, Romer said.

“Doctors are taught to be an island of excellence,” Romer said. “The problem is that everybody can’t do a fantastic job if they are each an island.”

The health group decided, in order to determine which approaches to treating hypertension worked and which did not, they needed to share information and compare data, Romer said. As a result, they found the best approach was to engage patients and address hypertension regardless of why a patient sought treatment.

The process has since become standard practice within the group, and the results have been significant, Romer said.

Hypertension contributes to heart disease, raises chances of diabetes significantly and is the most difficult to treat, but applying quality theory makes a big difference, said Romer.

“We see their tears, heartache and pain,” Romer said. “It is nice not to see that.”