Clinical practice characteristics and technology usage of physicians from the Mississippi hypertension specialist initiative

Background:  To meet the challenge of providing better treatment of hypertension to Mississippians, the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program created the Mississippi Hypertension Specialist Initiative (MHSI).  The goal of MHSI is to improve the quality of care strategies for patients by increasing physicians’ knowledge and skills in managing complex, treatment resistant forms of hypertension and increasing the number of certified hypertension specialists in Mississippi.

Methods:  Mississippi physicians were recruited to participate in a two-day clinical review course to prepare for the American Society of Hypertension Specialist Exam.  Prior to participating the two day-clinical review course, Mississippi physicians completed a survey about their medical practice, demographics, and current technology use. Frequency analysis using SPSS 21.0 was conducted on responses to survey questions. 

Results:  A total of thirty-three physicians completed the survey.  The majority of the physicians were male (69.2%), white (46.2%), and twenty years experience as a practicing medical doctor (66.7%), weekly patient load of 61-80 patients (38.5%), worked in a community clinic (45.5%).  Also physicians responded that they routinely used:  electronic billing of services (92.3%), electronic ordering of tests, procedures or drugs (84.6%), electronic patient medical records (84.6%), email other doctors to consult or communicate about patients (30.8%), email patients to communicate about care (23.1%), and computer-based decision support tools that provide real-time treatment recommendations or diagnostic support for patients (69.2%). 

Conclusion/Discussion: Examining Mississippi physicians’ practice and technology usage provided understanding of their delivery of health care services.  MHSI could serve as a model of quality improvement initiatives that focus on reducing CVD morbidity and mortality.