OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL

Surgeon General's Call to Action

In late 2008, Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, issued a "Call to Action" urging a coordinated, multifaceted effort among all stakeholders to reduce the incidence of DVT and PE nationwide. Goals include:

• Public awareness about VTE risk factors and symptoms and public empowerment to speak with healthcare professionals about VTE
• All healthcare professionals in all settings clearly understanding and routinely applying evidence-based practices for the screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of VTE
• Ongoing research to fill gaps in knowledge, with new scientific evidence being quickly disseminated to the public and put into practice by healthcare professionals

The Call to Action concludes: "Implementing this vision will not be an easy task, and progress will take time. Many barriers stand in the way, but solutions must be found and, more importantly, set into motion."