Seven dental offices in Lansing, MI, are participating in a pilot study to assess the impact of screening for hypertension during dental appointments.
The offices will be working with Delta Dental of Michigan, Ingham Regional Medical Center (IRMC)/McLaren Health Care, and Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA).
Participating dentists will conduct blood pressure screenings when patients come in for routine appointments and will work with Delta Dental, IRMC, and MPCA to refer patients who request assistance in obtaining further evaluation or treatment.
"About 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure, but many are not aware of it until advanced stages when negative symptoms appear," said Jed Jacobson, DDS, chief science officer and senior vice president at Delta Dental of Michigan, in a press release. "The 'Beyond Dental Chairside Screening' project is designed to take advantage of regular dental appointments as healthcare screening opportunities."
Copyright © 2010 DrBicuspid.com
