WHL Note on the Kaiser Permanente Article

The World Hypertension League (WHL) highlights the Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) hypertension program in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Hypertension. The systematic and strategic approach to control hypertension in an integrated healthcare delivery system achieved 90% control with the expected large reductions in cardiovascular events. Clear, easy‐to‐follow steps are outlined that could allow other healthcare systems to achieve similar remarkable improvements in hypertension control. In addition, most of the tactics and strategies used by KPNC are directly applicable to many, if not most, single or group clinical practices as well as managed care organizations. Governments and hypertension organizations should promote the KPNC hypertension program as a model to encourage clinics to adopt similar approaches, particularly where resources are available. The WHL challenges healthcare professions that care for patients with hypertension to implement a locally adopted hypertension control program modeled after KPNC. The WHL plans to work with clinicians and providers who have achieved remarkable success in hypertension control to develop a step‐by‐step manual for setting up a clinic to improve blood pressure control. Stay tuned.