What is the Cost of Measuring a Blood Pressure?

Rationale: Blood Pressure measurement has transitioned to the oscillometric method in most hospitals in the United States, however out-patient offices mainly use the auscultatory technique. Objective: To determine time taken to measure blood pressure by an automatic oscillometric device compared to an auscultatory measurement device and to determine what each measurement costs. Methods: Blood Pressures were measured in a single primary care office by medical assistants (MA) for patients seen for office visits. Timed measurements were performed using an automated oscillometric Welch Allyn Connex Vital Signs Monitor (WA) and manually using a Tycos device. A minimum of 400 readings were taken with each method. Results: The average time to manually measure BP was 58.6 seconds, whereas the WA average was 39.8 seconds, 18.8 seconds faster (p<0.05). There was an improvement in measurement time with MA experience with the WA device (p<0.05). The average MA cost to measure a single BP using the manual method was $0.35 vs. the WA method ($0.24) or a savings of $0.11 per measurement. The improvement with experience of WA method reduced cost to$0.17 per measurement. Conclusion: The oscillometric method saved 17cents per measurement potentially saving $1,119 per year for our primary care practice

Rapid oscillometric blood pressure measurement compared to conventional oscillometric measurement Correspondence and requests for reprints to

Background There have been few reports studying the necessary interval between blood pressure measurements, after the initial rest period. Methods Blood pressure was measured in 50 patients ( ) using the conventional oscillometric technique COT ( ) and the rapid oscillometric technique ROT . Results The difference between COT and ROT was y1.1/ y 0.1 mmHg, which was not significantly different ( ) p = 0.8/ 1.0 and the pulse difference was y0.8 beats ( ) per minute p = 0.8 . Conclusions It is concluded that a 15-second interval between blood pressure readings is as accurate as a one-minute interval providing that these measurements are started after a 5-minute rest period

How to use home blood pressure monitors in clinical practice

status: publishe