Visual Analytics Dashboard Promises to Improve Hypertension Guideline Implementation

Authors

Raef A. Fadel, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Jacob Ross, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Timothy S. Asmar, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Karthik Sridasyam, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Zachary Demertzis, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Guneet Ahluwalia, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Tamara Roumayah, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Megan Scott, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Hanan Ibrahim, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Rawan Hammoudeh, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Nitesh Gandhi, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Meaghan Flynn
Alexis C. Haftka-George, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Danielle Heidemann, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Sarah Sims
Phillip Levy
Joseph B. Miller, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Fadel RA, Ross J, Asmar T, Sridasyam K, Demertzis Z, Ahluwalia G, Roumayah T, Scott M, Ibrahim H, Hammoudeh R, Gandhi N, Flynn M, Haftka-George A, Heidemann D, Sims S, Levy P, and Miller J. Visual Analytics Dashboard Promises to Improve Hypertension Guideline Implementation. Am J Hypertens 2021.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-27-2021

Publication Title

American journal of hypertension

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary care management of hypertension under new guidelines incorporates assessment of cardiovascular disease risk and commonly requires review of electronic health record (EHR) data. Visual analytics can streamline the review of complex data and may lessen the burden clinicians face using the EHR. This study sought to assess the utility of a visual analytics dashboard in addition to EHR in managing hypertension in a primary care setting.

METHODS: Primary care physicians within an urban, academic internal medicine clinic were tasked with performing two simulated patient encounters for HTN management: the first using standard EHR, and the second using EHR paired with a visual dashboard. The dashboard included graphical blood pressure trends with guideline-directed targets, calculated ASCVD risk score, and relevant medications. Guideline-appropriate antihypertensive prescribing, correct target blood pressure goal, and total encounter time were assessed.

RESULTS: We evaluated 70 case simulations. Use of the dashboard with the EHR compared to use of the EHR alone was associated with greater adherence to prescribing guidelines (95% vs. 62%, p<0.001) and more correct identification of BP target (95% vs. 57%, p<0.01). Total encounter time fell an average of 121 seconds (95% CI 69 - 157 seconds, p<0.001) in encounters that used the dashboard combined with the EHR.

CONCLUSIONS: The integration of a hypertension-specific visual analytics dashboard with EHR demonstrates the potential to reduce time and improve hypertension guideline implementation. Further widespread testing in clinical practice is warranted.

PubMed ID

34043744

ePublication

ePub ahead of print