Assessment 3 Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations

2 Part 1 – Assessing the Problem of Hypertension As explained in Assessments 2, the 2019 statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that diabetes is one of America's leading causes of death; it kills an estimated 500,000 every year (CDC, 2021). The alarming statistics provided by the CDC about the current rates of hypertension in America is that it affects an estimated 116 million American adults, which translates to an estimated 47 percent of the total population (CDC, 2021). The high prevalence of the disease highlights the importance of using technology, care coordination, and community resources to improve disease management, noting the minimal impact of traditional care practices. For example, the CDC notes that an estimated 1 in every four people with hypertension have the condition effectively controlled, which means that the remaining three have problems with disease management. The high numbers estimated at over three-quarters of the people with hypertension highlights the importance of improving disease control using all available means. This report explores the applications of technology, care coordination, and community resources to improve hypertension management for America towards guaranteeing favorable care outcomes. Impact of Healthcare Technology on Hypertension Management One of the most beneficial applications of healthcare technology is e-health, which uses electronic or digital technologies to deliver healthcare services (Crico et al., 2018). E-health also entails the extensive use of various communication technologies to guarantee care quality improvement and the delivery of optimal care quality. The most helpful e-health applications in use today include telehealth and m-health (mobile health) (Crico et al., 2018). Both service delivery channels are widely used to expand access to care services, especially among groups and areas with a high lack of access.

3 For people with hypertension such as John, continuous medical care and supervision are required, and e-health channels such as telehealth offer practitioners and patients the crucial connection to continue service delivery and cultivate the required long-term relationship (Crico et al., 2018). Using these technologies is crucial in empowering patients with the disease, especially those with uncontrolled high blood pressure, by influencing the behavioral and attitude change required and improving their health levels. In essence, healthcare technology improves the therapeutic relationship between the care provider and patient and minimizes the healthcare risks that result from uncontrolled hypertension such as heart disease and stroke (Crico et al., 2018).