In a new report published by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), it is recommended that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health jurisdictions, focus on population-based strategies that can reach large numbers of people and improve the well-being of entire communities in dealing with hypertension. Behavioral and lifestyle interventions, i.e. reducing sodium intake, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables and increasing physical activity are among the best examples. The report also highlights the need to improve providers’ adherence to the treatment guidelines for hypertension, especially in the elderly population, and to encourage patients to take medication consistently by reducing or eliminating the cost of antihypertensive medication. 

For information about the report, go to http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/A-Population-Based-Policy-and-Systems-Change-Approach-to-Prevent-and-Control-Hypertension.aspx

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm and is filed under Medical Reimbursement News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.