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VTE PREVENTION: AN INCREASED FOCUS

Are Your Patients at Risk for VTE?

VTE Prevention: An Increased Focus

VTE exerts a far-reaching impact on individual patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system at large. Recent public attention has directed an increased focus on preventing VTE1:

  • On September 15, 2008, the US Surgeon General issued a Call to Action emphasizing the importance of reducing morbidity and mortality caused by DVT/PE.1 Visit the US Surgeon General Web site to learn more

The Cost of a Clot

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer reimburse VTE associated with total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) surgeries, which is included in the list of hospital-acquired conditions2:

  • The estimated cost to the hospital for a postoperative VTE is approximately $22,000 (2000 dollars)3

prophylaxis difficult

FACT:

VTE prevention involves treatment considerations that can make prophylaxis difficult for both you and your patients.






References:

  1. The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism 2008. US Department of Health and Human Services Web site. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/deepvein/calltoaction/call-to-action-on-dvt-2008.pdf. Accessed January 26, 2011.
  2. CMS improves patient safety for Medicare and Medicaid by addressing never events. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Web site. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp?Counter=3224&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData-&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=6&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date. Published August 4, 2008. Accessed February 1, 2011.
  3. Zhan C, Miller MR. Excess length of stay, charges, and mortality attributable to medical injuries during hospitalization. JAMA. 2003;290(14):1868-1874.