Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Free to Healthcare Professionals

Blood Pressure Training Classes for Healthcare Professionals

The Virginia Department of Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is offering the Blood Pressure Measurement Certification Course for health care professionals at no charge. The course is valued at over $800.00 per person however, all course materials are provided free of charge.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, practice surveys worldwide report serious problems in the accuracy of blood pressure measurements, and poor adherence to proper technique. Many well-meaning health care providers take incorrect blood pressure readings, a number used for many diagnostic and treatment decisions. Even experienced providers often produce more accurate readings after successful completion of this course. Your investment of 4 hours can help assure better treatment, and save lives. 

Participants will learn elements critical to accurate BP measurement:

• how to improve accuracy of readings
• Auscultatory–Palpatory technique of measurement
• correct client positioning
• how to determine appropriate cuff size and placement
• how to determine Maximum Inflation Level
• stethoscope application and use
• current guidelines for detection, evaluation and treatment of hypertension

• a pediatric component is also available on request.  This section covers definitions of normal, prehypertension and hypertension in children and adolescents; evaluation of hypertension in this age group; coarctation of the aorta;  complications of hypertension; and blood pressure standards for children and adolescents based on height, gender and age.

CEU’s are available (except for MDs) free of cost.

“It is well accepted and established that blood pressure control improves morbidity and mortality.  National and international guidelines provide goals for blood pressure control in our patients and a variety of treatment choices help us reach those goals.  We rely on office and sometimes home blood pressure readings to determine the need for changes in treatment or achievement of goals.  Unfortunately, we are often using faulty readings to make these determinations.  We would not accept lab results if we knew that the machine was not calibrated or the measurement technique was incorrect.  Why should we accept inaccurate blood pressure readings to
make clinical decisions?  This course is an excellent way to improve or refresh the skills of ourselves and staff and thereby offer the best care to our patients.  I encourage you to participate.”     
Betsy Ripley, MD, MS
VCU Health Systems                 

Find out how to get you and/or your staff in a free class now. 

Call Pam Aldridge 804-864-7869
e-mail: pam.aldridge@vdh.virginia.gov

Blood Pressure Training Materials

A self-study toolkit for healthcare professionals to update their blood pressure measurement skills and their knowledge regarding current guidelines for the detection and evaluation of hypertension is available at no charge by calling 1-800-SENTARA. The kit includes a video that covers sources of errors in BP measurement and how to improve the accuracy of blood pressure readings using American Heart Association recommendations; maintenance and calibration of BP equipment and the new JNC 7 Guidelines; as well as related references,
hand-outs, and training materials. The video is available in both VHS and DVD formats.

We know that many blood pressure readings are not accurate and even the most experienced screeners should be asking themselves, "Am I doing this correctly?" This kit provides instruction on proper techniques that can impact dramatically on accurate measurement. CEUs are available from the Virginia Department of Health by following instructions in the kit.

To order your copy, call 1-800-SENTARA and ask for "Blood Pressure Measurement in the 21st Century".

Stroke Rehabilitation Tool

The Stroke Rehabilitation Tool is intended to be used by stroke health care providers to ensure that hospitalized stroke patients are referred for post-stroke rehabilitation that adequately provides for their medical and functional needs.  The tool includes a Patient/Family educational component designed to educate stroke patients and their families regarding the need for post-stroke rehabilitation, what services are available, what benefits are possible and why the family’s support is important to the eventual outcome.  Science-based information was utilized in development of the tool.

The tool was developed by members of Virginia Stroke Systems, a collaborative of the Virginia Department of Health’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Project, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and many other stakeholders across the Commonwealth. 

Included in the materials are the following:

• A letter of introduction with instructions regarding use of the tool and the references used for developing the tool.
• Levels of Stroke Rehabilitation Care in an easy-to-follow visual format.

• Patient and Family Information component .

In order to dowload the document you must register here first then click on the document called "Stroke Rehab Referral Tool Pt-Fam Info" after you login.

The tool is also available in a laminated hard-copy version that can be ordered (at no cost) by calling 1-804-864-7877.