Using Simple Telehealth in primary care to reduce blood pressure: a service evaluation (UK)

Steve Hards

A study just published in the BMJ’s ‘Open Access’ section reports on an evaluation of Simple Telehealth’s Florence system that is a simple, interactive mobile phone texting service with blood pressure management intervention. For three months (or less if appropriate) patients measured their blood pressure, texted their readings to Florence, received an immediate automatic response and had results reviewed by their GP/practice nurse at least weekly. Main conclusions were: the interactive telehealth intervention was an effective and acceptable way of gaining control of blood pressure; maximal reductions occurred among hypertensive older adults without chronic kidney disease, and “There may be a place for wider utilisation of this technology to assist in the diagnosis of hypertension, monitoring hypertension and remote clinical management, and in those who find it difficult to attend their general practitioner surgery.” All good stuff, and worth reading all through, even if the BMJ editors were asleep on the job and allowed the brand name Simple Telehealth to slip through as if it were an adjectival phrase, simple telehealth. Using simple telehealth in primary care to reduce blood pressure: a service evaluation. Heads-up thanks to Mike Clark.