Improving hypertension control in diabetes: a multisite quality improvement project that applies a 3-step care bundle to a chronic disease care model for diabetes with hypertension.

Hypertension in diabetes patients leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Nonetheless blood pressure (BP) control in patients with diabetes remains disappointing. The authors applied a care bundle to decrease the proportion of patients with BP exceeding 130/80. Teams from 4 sites in 3 states (Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona) developed a bundle consisting of a standardized BP process, an order set, and a patient goal. Baseline data were collected in the first 12 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of implementing changes. The final 16 weeks represented the intervention. There was a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of patients with uncontrolled BP in 3 of 4 sites (P < .0001 in all 3 sites demonstrating improvement). There was a statistically significant improvement in the satisfaction survey (P = .0011). Implementing an evidence-based care bundle for hypertension in diabetes mellitus can improve BP outcomes.