Hospitalists Are Frontline Providers in Treating Venous Thromboembolism

Getting the Upper Hand

Getting involved in your hospital’s venous thromboembolism (VTE) task force is a great opportunity to have your voice heard and become involved in the implementation of change in your hospital’s VTE management process. It also is a forum in which you could learn more about VTE, including appropriate prophylaxis methods for various patient populations.

Some other VTE resources:

• The American College of Chest Physicians offers evidence-based practice guidelines on the management and prevention of VTE.
• SHM is airing a seven-part webinar series on anticoagulation, which is free to members via the Learning/Education portal. By participating in all of the sessions, members earn 6.5 AMA PRA category 1 credit hours. “The knowledge imparted will help me to improve my practice of hospital medicine and treatment of patients requiring anticoagulants, which is the majority of our patients,” Dr. Lindsey says.

—Karen Appold

Bringing Awareness to VTE

Thromboembolisms (VTEs) are the most common cause of preventable death in the hospitalized patient. Given the adverse outcomes and economic burden associated with VTEs, it is truly a public health concern. As Dr. Kanikkannan suggests, “Why not use the month of March—VTE awareness month—as an opportunity to educate patients about healthy lifestyle practices to prevent VTE?

“Patients can learn to identify their risk factors and become aware of symptoms that may be a cause for concern, prompting them to seek medical attention,” she says.

“It might be helpful for hospitals to arrange review sessions for VTE prophylaxis for providers and staff.” —Dr. Suehler

Hospitalists could also organize or participate in community health fairs—a great venue to spread the word about VTE and create awareness among the public. Because hospitalists frequently sit on VTE task forces in hospitals and take a lead role in implementing VTE prophylaxis efforts, they are in a prime position to implement a hospital campaign during VTE awareness month.

Keeping staff abreast of advancements is also advisable.

“It might be helpful for hospitals to arrange review sessions for VTE prophylaxis for providers and staff,” says Klaus Suehler, MD, FHM, hospitalist at Mercy Hospital Allina Health in Coon Rapids, Minn., who believes that creating awareness makes a 0% failure rate on VTE prophylaxis achievable.

—Karen Appold