Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (APSS)

Venous-Thromboembolism-VTE
13B Venous Thromboembolism

The Venous Thromboembolism APSS Blueprint outlines actionable steps healthcare organizations should take to successfully implement and sustain improvements in order to reduce venous thromboembolism morbidity and mortality. Actionable steps to improve venous thromboembolism rates and summaries of available evidence-based practice protocols are included:

  • Leadership checklist guide to determine whether current evidence-based guidelines are being followed in your organization
  • Performance improvement plan to follow if improvements are necessary
  • Clinical workflow for venous thromboembolism prevention across the continuum of care
  • Knowledge base on prevention, early detection, and treatment of venous thromboembolism
  • How to educate patients and family members about venous thromboembolism prevention, recognition, and treatment
  • Venous thromboembolism resource guide
  • Guidance on how to measure outcomes

The Blueprint is revised annually and is available free of charge on our website.

Hospitals who make a formal commitment to improve venous thromboembolism and share their successes on the PSMF website have access to an additional level of consulting services.

Executive summary

The Problem

VTE is estimated to be the second most common medical complication, the second most common cause of excess length of hospital stay (LOS), and the third most common cause of excess mortality. Standardized early recognition protocols are inexpensive, readily available, and effective methods to prevent VTE.

The Cost

Medical costs for VTE in the United States have been estimated to range from $5-$10 billion dollars per year (Grosse et al., 2017). The implementation of a standardized VTE prophylaxis protocol is inexpensive and can significantly decrease VTE-related readmission, harm, and death.

The Solution

Many healthcare organizations have successfully implemented and sustained improvements and reduced death from VTE. These organizations have focused on projects that included implementing a VTE prevention “bundle”.

This document provides a blueprint that outlines the actionable steps organizations should take to successfully improve VTE prevention and summarizes the available evidence-based practice protocols. This document is revised annually and is always available free of charge on our website. Hospitals who make a formal commitment to improve VTE and share their successes on the PSMF website have access to an additional level of consulting services.

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