What I learned running a blood pressure pilot in my dental practice

After his dental practice took part in a blood pressure pilot, Jeff Sherer explains how the additional service helped to elevate patient care.

As a kid it was always my dream to be a medical doctor, helping patients and curing strange diseases like in popular television shows. Unfortunately, my teachers at school did not share the same vision for me, and somehow through a series of events I found myself as a dentist. Although my career has been immensely satisfying, having had the opportunity to take part in post graduate study in dental implants and sedation, I always felt that as dentist there was so much more we can do for our patients.

Last year, two of the integrated care boards (ICBs) – Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and Humber – asked if we would be interested in taking part in a pilot scheme which was designed to take the blood pressure of patients who were attending the practice, with a view of helping to identify patients with undiagnosed hypertension.