Hypertension in health care providers: effectiveness of worksite treatment programs in a state mental health agency.

Twenty-seven per cent of 6,785 employees of the Office of Mental Health, New York State, had blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90; 66 per cent were previously known hypertensives. Treatment of hypertension was initiated at three worksites by a nurse-physician team using a stepped-care drug protocol. Of 232 patients under treatment, 67 per cent (156) have diastolic blood pressure controlled to less than 95 mmHg. Mean length of follow-up at the first established worksite was 3.7 +/- 0.4 years and at all three worksites 13.5 months.