A worksite hypertension control program for hospital employees utilizing repetitive monitoring

Hospital employment involves certain consequent considerations that should influence the design of a worksite hypertension control program. These factors, which in combination are relatively unique to hospital work, include the statutory requirements for periodic physical examination, the accessibility of individually obtained medical attention, the relatively high employee turnover and the deployment of work staff through day and night shifts. Based upon these considerations, a hypertension control program utilizing physician's assistants to provide semiannual blood pressure determinations to those employees with known borderline or unequivocal hypertension was implemented at Montefiore Hospital in 1977. Personal responsibility for appropriate medical attention was emphasized. During the most recent monitoring, 76% of all employees screened and 80% of those under medical attention were considered to exhibit adequate blood pressure control. This type of program, which can be adapted to other work environments, is well-accepted, effective and economical.