By Michael Wong, JD (Founder & Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

In observance of Blood Clot Awareness Month, this article is not about 10 things or 7 ways or even 3 methods for preventing blood clots. I thought that I would make it super easy by distilling what needs to be done to just 1. 

Every 6 minutes in the US, someone dies from a blood clot!

According to the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, not all patients are receiving appropriate VTE prophylaxis – only 32-59% of patients are receiving appropriate prophylaxis.

A survey conducted by the National Blood Clot Alliance found significant gaps in the application of VTE prophylaxis in patients that were hospitalized more than 3 days:

Data from NBCA’s online survey of 500 patients who had been hospitalized for >3 days, show that less than one-third of respondents report DVT prophylaxis with either an anticoagulant pill or anticoagulant injection, even though more than 40% of them report that they had a family member who previously had a blood clot in the leg or lung, and 15% say they had a personal history of a blood clot in the leg or lung.  DVT prophylaxis reported by respondents include:  63% ambulation, 39% compression stockings, 37% mechanical compression, 37% aspirin, 29% anticoagulant injection, and 28% anticoagulant pill.

So, what’s the 1 thing you can do? 

For Blood Clot Awareness Month, Make Sure Appropriate VTE Prophylaxis Has Been Prescribed

And, for those who want more than just 1, here are 2 more things you can do to observe Blood Clot Awareness Month:

If your patient is a maternal patient, please use the OB VTE Safety Recommendations.

The OB VTE Safety Recommendations were developed with the advice and counsel of a panel of experts brought together by PPAHS. The Recommendations provide four concise steps that:

1. Assess patients for VTE risk with an easy to use automated scoring system
2. Provide the recommended prophylaxis regimen, depending on whether the mother is antepartum or postpartum.
3. Reassesses the patient every 24 hours or upon the occurrence of a significant event, like surgery.
4. Ensures that the mother is provided appropriate VTE prevention education upon hospital discharge.

To download a copy of the OB VTE Safety Recommendations, please click here.

If your patient is a stroke patient, please use the Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations.

The Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations were developed by a group of leading neurological health and patient safety experts brought together by the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, the Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations incorporate the latest research.

The Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations provide four concise steps that:

1. Assess all admitted patients with a stroke or rule out stroke diagnosis for VTE risk with an easy to use checklist.
2. Provide the recommended prophylaxis regimen, which includes the use of mechanical prophylaxis and anticoagulant therapy.
3. Reassesses the patient every 24 hours, prior to any surgical or procedural intervention or change in the patient’s condition.
4. Ensure that the patient is provided appropriate VTE instructions and information upon hospital discharge or transition to rehabilitation.

The Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations can be viewed by clicking here.

 

• Blood Clots