Hypertension

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a common condition that is treated at River Road Medical Group. High Blood Pressure can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and sometimes death. Blood pressure is the force that a person’s blood exerts against the walls of their blood vessels. This pressure depends on the resistance of the blood vessels and how hard the heart has to work.


The highly trained providers and staff at River Road Medical Group work hard to provide comprehensive and preventative healthcare services for families throughout Eugene and surrounding areas. If you or a loved one experiences Hypertension, schedule an appointment with one of our providers today to find out the risks, causes, and treatment options. Our goal is to provide personalized, comprehensive medical care of the highest quality. Board-Certified, Dr. Patricia Buchanan works hard to provide easy, accessible healthcare for families and individuals throughout the Eugene area.


We know you are busy and we are working hard to use technology to make healthcare easier. Take advantage of our online appointments, text reminders, internet portal, and Healow App to see your records, lab and test results, and statements. Message us to check on a prescription refill or follow-up with a quick question from a prior appointment. The Healow App also allows you to see immunization records.


About Hypertension

  • What is Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)?

    According to the CDC, "High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (or hypertension).


    The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.


    Your health care team can diagnose high blood pressure and make treatment decisions by reviewing your systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and comparing them to levels found in certain guidelines.


    The guidelines used to diagnose high blood pressure may differ from health care professional to health care professional:


    Some health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Other health care professionals diagnose patients with high blood pressure if their blood pressure is consistently 130/80 mm Hg or higher."


    Read More: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm

  • How is Hypertension treated?

    Hypertension, or High Blood Pressure, can be treated in many different ways. It is best to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss the best treatment for you. Hypertension can be treated with several types of drugs and a variety of lifestyle changes. 

  • What is the cause of Hypertension?

    According to WebMD, "The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several things may play a role, including:


    • Smoking
    • Being overweight or obese
    • Lack of physical activity
    • Too much salt in the diet
    • Too much alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day)
    • Stress
    • Older age
    • Genetics
    • Family history of high blood pressure
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Adrenal and thyroid disorders
    • Sleep apnea"

    Read More: https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/blood-pressure-causes

Schedule an Appointment

Personalized Healthcare Services

Providing personalized healthcare services for more than 60 years.

Together, you and your healthcare provider will make treatment decisions about your health. We use a team-based approach, which means Medical Assistants, Nurses, Care Managers, and other healthcare professionals work with providers to maximize your health. To make good decisions, your team needs accurate information. It is important to bring all medications and over-the-counter treatments, including vitamins and herbal supplements to each visit. It can also be helpful to write down questions you would like discussed at your visit. In some cases, we may not be able to address each item on your list in a single visit, but you and your provider will be able to create a plan and schedule future visits, tests, or referrals.

Frequently Asked Questions

For any additional questions, please feel free to give us a call during our normal operating hours at (541) 688-0674.

  • What are your business hours?

    We are open 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday-Friday.

  • Where are you located?

    We are located at 890 River Road, Eugene OR 97404

  • Do you accept my insurance?

    We accept most insurances. Currently, we are not in-network with Lifewise or Cigna. Trillium patients are assigned by Trillium. To request one of our providers, please call their office. 


    We are currently in-network with: 

    • Regence
    • Blue Cross Blue Shield
    • Moda
    • Meritain
    • Providence
    • PacificSource
    • Health Net
    • Medicare
    • Medicare Supplements (AARP)
    • Medicaid (Trillium and PacificSource)

    We also offer self-pay solutions for those without insurance.

  • Will my insurance pay for my service?

    Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance or employee benefit plan. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions:


    • What is my health insurance coverage and benefits?
    • What is my deductible and has it been met?
    • Do I have a co-pay? If so, how much is it?
    • What is my wellness visit coverage?

  • Do you offer self-pay options?

    Yes. Self-pay patients must pay for their first visit in full at the time of visit. We offer a prompt payment discount of 20% and accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards.

  • Do you provide healthcare services for all ages?

    Yes. We provide healthcare solutions for those from newborns to centenarians.

  • How do I contact my provider?

    You may send us a message through the Patient Portal Website or the Healow App. You may also call our office at 541-688-0674 between 8 AM and 5 PM on Monday – Friday.

  • How do I request prescription refills?

    We ask that you contact your pharmacy directly to request prescription refills, even if your medication bottle indicates that there are no refills left. We have a nursing staff member assigned to address prescription refill requests we receive from pharmacies. If you are due for an appointment, we will contact you to let you know. Refill requests are addressed Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – Friday 5:00 PM only. There are no after-hours or weekend refills of prescription medication.

  • How will I be notified of my lab test results?

    Once you have signed up for the Patient Portal or Healow App you will receive an email or text notifying you when your results are available to view. If you have not signed up for these services, you may receive your results by mail. You may also be called if there are special instructions or comments to be relayed to you from the provider.

  • Do you send me copy of my lab test results?

    You can access your lab test results from the Patient Portal. If you have not signed up for the Patient Portal you may receive your lab test results by mail.

  • Do you offer same day appointments?

    Yes! We do offer same-day appointments.

  • How do I schedule an appointment?

    You may call our office to schedule at 541-688-0674 or, if you are an established patient, you may schedule online through the Healow website or app.

  • What is your cancellation and no-show policy?

    We understand that sometimes you have to cancel an appointment at our office. If this happens, we require you to call our office no less than 4 hours in advance, preferably 24 hours in advance, so that we can open the appointment slot to other patients needing care. Three missed appointments will result in dismissal from River Road Medical Group. In addition, new patients that miss their first appointment may be dismissed as well.

  • What are you doing in regards to COVID-19?

    Our lobby has limited seating meeting social distancing requirements. We require the temperatures of staff and patients checked upon entering the building. For an extra precaution, we have tents set up outside for patients to be seen who are experiencing symptoms or for those who do not wish to come inside.

  • Do you offer onsite emergency services?

    We offer 24/7 physician on-call services but do not offer onsite emergency services. We do not take emergency walk-ins. If you are having a medical emergency we suggest to call 9-1-1 or visit your local emergency room. 

  • Do you offer language options other than English?

    When necessary, we provide interpreter services for languages other than English. If this is something that you may need for your appointment, we request that you let us know at the time of scheduling.