NW London pilots a remote blood pressure management application with 1,476 patients, allowing patients to monitor their blood pressure from the comfort of their own homes.
The NW London Digital First programme has been piloting Viso Hypertension Plus, a remote patient management service from OMRON Healthcare, since April 2021.
It provides a convenient way for patients to manage their blood pressure. Patients taking part in the pilot no longer need to travel to attend GP appointments to monitor their blood pressure. Instead, they share their blood pressure readings in the Viso app, giving healthcare professionals a full picture of their blood pressure. They can also stay on top of taking their medications as per the plan, and the healthcare professional can also follow up that treatment plan is working as intended and make adjustments if not.
If a patient records an unusual blood pressure reading, the Viso Hypertension Plus app prompts them to wait at least five minutes before taking another reading. If the reading is still out of range, it prompts the patient on the next course of immediate action they should take. An alert is generated in the Viso system for the healthcare professionals to respond with the level of urgency the situation requires.
The pilot shows that managing your blood pressure and medication from home with the support of your GP is safe and effective, resulting in lower blood pressure for many people. 79% of the 1,476 patients piloting Hypertension Plus are actively logging their blood pressure. The average systolic blood pressure drop for those patients using the platform for nine months is nearly 18 mmHg. That means the stress on blood vessels has reduced, which reduces their risk of health conditions such as heart disease or stroke.
Across the world, high blood pressure is the number one preventable risk factor for death. High blood pressure is the third biggest risk factor for early death and disability in the UK, after smoking and poor diet. Exploring how digital innovation can improve patient outcomes not only has the potential to relieve GPs from up to a third of hypertension appointments, it also gives patients more choice over how they receive care. And in the case of this NW London pilot, it shows how digital innovation can empower patients with the right medication plan from the comfort of their own homes.
“It’s very helpful for patients – especially for those who are technically savvy. They can submit their blood pressure from home.” Priyanka Jani, healthcare assistant, Wembley Park Drive Medical Centre.
We are always reviewing services to make sure they are right for our patient population. To make sure this pilot works the best for our patients, we will continue to review and report on how this pilot is working.