The American Medical Association (AMA) and MedCerts have joined forces to enhance the blood pressure measurement skills of healthcare professionals, including medical assistants. This collaboration aims to provide standardized educational content that will train these professionals in accurate and consistent blood pressure measurement techniques.

MedCerts, known for its online career training in allied healthcare and information technology, has integrated three interactive learning modules developed by the AMA into its "Vital Signs for Caregivers" eLearning unit. These modules include BP Measurement Essentials, Measuring BP in Real-World Settings, and Practice Measuring BP.

Bruce A. Scott, M.D., President of the AMA, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “With the lack of standardized training on evidence-based blood pressure measurement techniques, the AMA is collaborating with organizations like MedCerts to expand access to AMA’s online education modules to help ensure all health care professionals in the U.S. are uniformly trained to take accurate and consistent BP measurements.” He noted a decline in controlled blood pressure among American adults and stressed that standardizing measurement methods is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

The new learning modules were recently introduced as part of MedCerts' certified nursing assistant program and will be included in all patient care programs starting from October or November. The collaboration is expected to benefit over 10,000 MedCerts students each year.

Dana Janssen, Chief Product Officer at MedCerts, expressed pride in partnering with the AMA: “We’re truly proud to collaborate with the American Medical Association to help future medical professionals provide the best patient care possible." Janssen highlighted that preventing heart disease begins with accurately measuring blood pressure and encouraging patients towards healthier lifestyles.

According to the AMA, nearly half of U.S. adults—over 122 million people—have high blood pressure or hypertension. However, only about one-fourth manage to keep it under control. Effective management of hypertension is vital for preventing heart disease and reducing mortality from heart attacks and strokes.

High blood pressure often presents no symptoms but can lead to severe health issues by damaging blood vessels silently. While there is no cure for hypertension, individuals can improve their health outcomes through lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake, managing stress levels, and adhering to a healthy diet low in fat and sodium.

MedCerts is a Stride Inc. company offering national online training aimed at strengthening the workforce through innovative eLearning solutions focused on certifications in high-demand fields like allied healthcare and IT. Since its inception in 2009, MedCerts has developed over 50 career programs and trained more than 100,000 individuals across America.

For further details about MedCerts or their Partner Solutions brand launched in 2023 focusing on bridging gaps between students and employers through various partnership models visit medcerts.com or partners.medcerts.com respectively.