Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SAVAHCS), located in Tucson, had no outpatient protocol for first event uncomplicated lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. The majority of these patients presented to the emergency room or were seen by their primary care providers. The purpose of this practice change project involved the development and implementation of an outpatient protocol using LMWH. The secondary objectives included identification of Veterans’ described barriers to home treatment, evaluation for reduction in cost, and quantification of admission rates pre- versus post-protocol.
