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.

Institute for Healthcare Improvement and National Perinatal Association Endorse Use of the OB VTE Safety Recommendations

The OB VTE Safety Recommendations address a critical patient issue, according to Frank Federico, RPh (Executive Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Safety Advisory Group at The Joint Commission).

According to Mr. Federico, “These recommendations focus on prevention measures that can easily be adopted and used by healthcare facilities to prevent VTE and help ensure that delivering mothers go home safely with their babies.”

The health and well-being of mothers and infants is central to the efforts of the National Perinatal Association. MaryAnne Laffin, NP, CNM, FACNM (Past President at the National Perinatal Association) says that pregnant mothers need to understand the added risk of VTE that pregnancy and delivery by cesarean section brings. In addition, they need to be aware of this risk not only antepartum or prior to delivery, but that this risk continues upon discharge and up to one month post partum.

“The risks of VTE are 4-5 times higher for pregnant women than for non-pregnant women,” says Ms. Laffin. “Women not only need to know of the added risk of blood clots during pregnancy, but that this risk increases following cesarean birth. Following c-section, the risk of VTE is almost two times higher. For the safety of pregnant women, the National Perinatal Association therefore encourages all hospitals to adopt these VTE safety recommendations.”

Media Coverage About the OB VTE Safety Recommendations

Press release, “New VTE Safety Recommendations Prevent Blood Clots In Pregnant Mothers: Healthcare Organizations Encourage Use of Venous Thromboembolism Recommendations to Reduce Adverse Events and Save Lives”

Presentation at ACOG Annual Meeting, “Preventing Blood Clots in Mothers”

Press release, “OB VTE Safety Checklist Recommendations Well-Received at NPSF Congress” [July 1, 2014]

Article published in The Risk Management Quarterly, the peer-reviewed journal for The Association for Healthcare Risk Management of New York, Inc. (the NY chapter of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management), “Managing Risk and Reducing Readmissions: New Safety Recommendations Prevent Venous Thromboembolism in Maternal Patients”

Lynn Razzano RN, MSN, ONCC article, “Put the “M” Back in Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Implementing VTE Prevention Guidelines”

IHI Perinatal Improvement Community (PIC) webinar, “Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Safety Recommendations: Targeting Maternal Patients”

Podcast “Preventing Blood Clots in Pregnancy,” by Colleen Lee MS, RN (Maternal/Perinatal Patient Safety Officer, Montefiore Medical Center) discusses the heightened risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE, which is commonly referred to as blood clots) in pregnancy.