There are nearly 900,000 cases of venous thromboembolism yearly in the United States with over 300,000 deaths, a figure that exceeds that of most other diseases. This incidence rate is echoed in global studies, with an acknowledged poor adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations for the prevention of this serious hospital-acquired condition. Venous thromboembolism is the primary patient safety concern for many of the health care regulating bodies, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, National Quality Forum, and The Joint Commission. It has been recognized as the most preventable cause of hospital deaths; therefore, many insurance payers will limit reimbursement for the added cost of care required in the event of this complication. Arizona hospitals are in the median range when evaluated for compliance with the guideline recommendations and for initiating venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, with a moderate improvement noted in those participating in more closely monitored programs. This capstone project was initiated at a small community hospital that initially had an abysmal rate of adherence with the prevention protocol, and seldom acknowledged the disease risk during patient assessments, with the goal of improvement in regulatory compliance and amelioration of patient safety with a reduction in morbidity and mortality.
