Better BP Begins Here: How Standardization Transforms Accuracy, Efficiency and Outcomes

November 10, 2025

The Foundation of Better Care Starts with Better BP®

Blood pressure (BP) measurement is one of the most critical vital signs in patient assessment—and one of the most commonly performed. Yet, despite its importance, BP measurement is often taken for granted. Small variations in technique, patient positioning or workflow can create large discrepancies that impact diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

At Midmark, we believe every BP reading matters. Through our Better BP initiative, we’re helping providers standardize measurement to achieve more accurate, consistent and repeatable results—because accuracy at the point of care sets the foundation for better clinical decisions, efficiency and patient trust.

Why Accuracy Matters

Accurate BP measurement is essential for identifying hypertension and managing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disorders. Even minor deviations can lead to misclassification—potentially overmedicating patients or failing to treat those who need care. In fact, studies show that inaccurate BP readings may contribute to as many as 40 million Americans being incorrectly classified as hypertensive, leading to unnecessary costs and treatments.

When clinicians can rely on standardized, reproducible BP readings, they gain confidence in data, patients experience safer care and healthcare systems can see measurable improvements in efficiency and cost control.

What the CORRECT BP Study Proved

To better understand the impact of patient positioning and adherence to clinical guidelines, Midmark funded the CORRECT BP Study, an independent, peer-reviewed clinical study published in eClinical Medicine (The Lancet Discovery Science)

The study compared BP readings taken with proper patient positioning on an adjustable-height exam chair versus those taken on a standard fixed-height exam table. Results showed that incorrect positioning resulted in readings 7.0 mmHg higher systolic and 4.5 mmHg higher diastolic, enough to shift millions of patients from normal to hypertensive classification.

For clinicians, these findings underscore that even small deviations from protocol can significantly alter diagnosis and treatment decisions. For patients, it reinforces the importance of consistency and understanding of the BP process.

Benefits Beyond the Reading

Accurate BP measurement drives confidence across the continuum of care:

• For Patients: Improves diagnostic accuracy, reduces medication errors and strengthens trust in the care team.

• For Providers: Improves workflow efficiency, clinical decision-making and patient satisfaction.

• For Health Systems: Reduces unnecessary tests, minimizes costs and supports value-based care goals.

Inaccurate readings cost an estimated $135,000 per physician annually¹ due to overtreatment and follow-up tests—an avoidable expense in an increasingly efficiency-driven healthcare environment.

Steps Toward Standardization

Consistency doesn’t happen by accident. Here are five ways healthcare teams can build a stronger BP measurement process:

1. Educate staff about understanding and following American Heart Association (AHA) BP guidelines.

2. Engage patients in understanding proper measurement and positioning.

3. Revisit protocols regularly to ensure habits align with standards.

4. Select proper equipment designed for positioning and accuracy.

5. Connect systems to eliminate manual data entry and help reduce the likelihood of errors.

By focusing on these steps, caregivers can create repeatable, reliable BP measurement processes that benefit both patients and operations.

The Path Forward

The BP acquisition process may seem routine, but it represents one of the greatest opportunities for improvement in patient care. Better BP starts with understanding how small process changes—standardized workflows, connected technologies and proper patient positioning—can make a measurable difference in outcomes.

As part of this effort, Midmark developed the eBook Ensuring Accurate BP Measurement for Improved Patient Outcomes with the guidance of Thomas D. Schwieterman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Midmark Corporation, to help provide clinicians with evidence-based insights into how proper technique, workflow design and connected technology can support better patient outcomes.

Download the full eBook Ensuring Accurate BP Measurement for Improved Patient Outcomes to learn how your care team can standardize BP measurement and improve clinical accuracy across every point of care.

Additional Reading:

• It is time to get the CORRECT BP at every visit: Why Positioning Matters + What the Research is Telling Us
• Better BP: The Importance of Real-World Evidence to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Diagnostics at the Point of Care
• Better BP: Designing Spaces for Accurate Blood Pressure Measurements
• Webinar: Enhancing BP Measurement Accuracy to Improve Hypertension Control + Chronic Disease Outcomes

1 $733 x (9.8% of 1,900) = ~$135,000, where 1) $733 = cost of overtreatment per patient. Cost data from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Article: “Expenditures for Hypertension Among Adults Aged 18 and Older, 2010: Estimates for the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population”. Includes cost of ambulatory visit and prescription (payer is either the patient, insurance company or ACO), 2) 9.8% = percentage of population affected by overestimation of high blood pressure errors, calculated by 30,000,000 affected by overestimation* / 307,000,000 the 2009 US population count**. Data from *https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911816/ and **Census.gov, and 3) 1,900 = typical patient panel size per physician. Panel size sourced from Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, July-August 2016; Vol. 29, No. 4.