Organization for long term management of hypertension: the recruitment, training, and responsibilities of a health team

One hundred ninety seven patients were in treatment for one year under the care of two nurses and two paraprofessionals. Of this group, 77% had improved or controlled blood pressures and only 6% were lost to follow up. The success of this program, in striking contrast to the results of traditional approaches, may be due to several factors. Here, treatment of hypertension was viewed as preventive medicine. Patients were not considered or labelled 'sick', as evidenced by the fact that therapy was offered at work and did not even require the regular care of a physician, the usual attendant of the ill. In addition, the health team employed nonphysicians as therapists, which permits concentration on solving specific medical problems. A primary effort thus can be made to encourage the close relation which is necessary for long term compliance by patients.