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Dr. Nilesh V. Patel, a solo provider and PA REACH partner, was recently selected as a finalist for the national 2013 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge. This Challenge seeks to identify and honor providers who have succeeded in working with their patients to get their blood pressure under control. Clinicians, practices, and health systems that provide primary care must achieve hypertension control rates greater than 70 percent to be considered for the challenge.  

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be working closely with Dr. Patel for the next several weeks to review materials, discuss project timelines, and gather additional information. This process will lead to the designation of their 2013 Hypertension Control Champions.  In 2012, Million Hearts® recognized Kaiser Permanente Colorado and Ellsworth Medical Clinic in Wisconsin as Hypertension Control Champions for their success in achieving greater than 80 percent control among their patient populations with high blood pressure. This year, they will recognize even more Hypertension Control Champions.

Dr. Patel was also featured in HealthIT Buzz, a popular Blog hosted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), in April 2013. The HealthIT Buzz article detailed how Dr. Patel has used his Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to accommodate the treatment of hypertensive patients and help him more efficiently provide targeted patient care. The article also specifically cited how PA REACH helped him adopt his Electronic Health Record (EHR) system in late 2011, which now allows his team to identify, treat, and recall hypertensive patients as well as schedule necessary follow-ups.

To learn more about Dr. Patel and his selection as a finalist for the 2013 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge, please contact PA REACH Project Coordinator Peter Mercuri at .