Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Ochsner inspires healthier lives and stronger communities through our mission to serve, heal, lead, educate and innovate.
Study shows Ochsner Digital Medicine improves hypertension control, reduces care gaps
The Ochsner Digital Medicine care model shows significant clinical gains in a large-scale study, positioning it as a vital tool for value-based care initiatives.
NEW ORLEANS, LA – A new peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine highlights the real-world impact of the Ochsner Digital Medicine program on hypertension management, demonstrating improved clinical outcomes, reduced acute care utilization, improved medication adherence, and closed care gaps in hypertension control.
As a scalable, digitally enabled care model, the research findings position Ochsner Digital Medicine as a proven solution for health systems, payors and self-funded employers to improve health outcomes and lower the cost of care.
The retrospective study, conducted between January 2019 and October 2023, analyzed data from 5,057 Medicare patients using propensity score matching and a difference-in-differences analysis.
Patients used Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuffs to submit readings to their Ochsner Digital Medicine care team, consisting of a licensed clinician who managed medications and a team of professional health coaches to support behavioral changes and lifestyle skills.
Key results from the study reveal that Ochsner Digital Medicine, a 2024 HIMSS Davies Award winner, demonstrates a powerful impact on blood pressure (BP) control and statistically significant reductions in systolic BP for all participants. Furthermore, BP control increased from 57.1% to 76.1% for Black Patients and 61.3% to 77.7% for white patients. These improvements emphasize the program's ability to deliver real-world effectiveness.
"This research reflects our commitment to our communities and validates our expertise in delivering the highest quality, patient-centered care through innovative and accessible platforms by a team that specializes in cardiometabolic conditions," said Eboni Price-Haywood, MD, MPH, MMM, FACP, system medical director, Ochsner Health Outcomes & Inclusion and first author of the study. "By engaging patients where they are, we are not just managing a condition; we are empowering individuals to take an active role in their health. The significant improvement in hypertension control, especially in historically underserved populations, shows the profound potential of digital medicine—and demonstrates how our scalable solution can extend these outcomes across diverse care settings and populations.”
Beyond BP control, the program demonstrated a significant reduction in costly, acute care utilization, including both emergency department and inpatient visits. Concurrently, primary care costs remained stable, signaling a shift from reactive, episodic care to preventive, managed care.
Additionally, participants in the Ochsner Digital Medicine program had higher odds of medication adherence at 6, 12, and 18 months compared to non-participants, a key factor in achieving better long-term health outcomes and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events.
"Our model is designed for scalability and seamless integration, offering a solution that drives meaningful clinical improvements and supports long-term savings by preventing costly acute episodes. It is a powerful engine for success in any value-based arrangement,” stated Dan Shields, CEO, Ochsner Digital Medicine.
About Ochsner Digital Medicine
Ochsner Health is an integrated healthcare system with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Celebrating more than 80 years of service, it leads nationally in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, liver and kidney transplants, and pediatrics, among other areas. Ochsner is consistently named both the top hospital and top children's hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report. Its cutting-edge Connected Health Digital Medicine program cares for patients beyond its walls by applying technology and data to create customized, patient-centered digital health solutions for chronic condition management. This program is a true clinical model that includes medication management by licensed clinicians. It enables members to improve their health and patient experience while reducing costs. Ochsner Digital Medicine is live in all 50 states, serving members, health plans, and employers nationally. Learn more at connectedhealth.ochsner.org/digital-medicine
About Ochsner Health
Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. Ochsner is nationally recognized for inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities through unmatched expertise, quality, and digital connectivity. In 2024, Ochsner’s more than 40,000 dedicated team members and 4,900 employed and affiliated physicians cared for 1.6 million people from every state in the nation and 63 countries. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit www.ochsner.org.
