The virtual hypertension clinic.

Despite increasing financial and human resources invested, the disappointing rate of hypertension (HT) control continues to pose a challenge to health care providers in the civilized world. Low HT control is associated with the poor patient compliance. Nowadays, SBPM is an accepted method to improve the patient compliance as well as HT control. However SBPM has several limitations such as:By using telemedicine in the SBPM, a virtual HT clinic can be built up. In our developed system (TensioPhone/TensionCare) we remind the patient the BP measurement and pill intake, and SBP data are automatically transferred to the center for analysis. The analysed and structured data are then sent to the physician and the patient as a printed report. Regular communication between the health care team and the patient can contribute to make the virtual hypertension clinic become a reality and to substantially improve HT control rates.