A data management system to assist hypertension treatment in primary health care

A data management system has been developed with respect to the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors. With this data management system as a tool, cooperation between the general practitioner and a specialist physician could be implemented. The system was successfully tested in a group-practice of two general practitioners. Individual follow-up became more tangible. Observations in the patients as a group warranted a modest opinion about hypertension management in view of the number of undetected hypertensives, the number of drop-outs, and the failures in treatment. The set-up functioned satisfactorily. Further application of the system on a wider scale is feasible. Improvement of treatment by a cautiously operating specialist physician is within reach of general practice, even if health care is not regionalized.