Implementing Best-Practice, Patient-Centered Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prevention in Trauma Centers

Elliott Haut, MD

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) approved $1.4 million in funding support to Elliott R. Haut, MD, PhD, FACS, for a project implementing the findings from a previously completed PCORI study. In that study of nurse and patient education modules, Haut and the Johns Hopkins Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Collaborative team showed that a web-based nurse education program can have a dramatic effect on missed doses of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis administration (blood clot prevention) in hospitalized patients. Additionally, a patient education bundle delivered to hospitalized patients reduced missed doses by nearly 50 percent.

Missed doses are a serious problem, and in trauma patients, can lead to life-threatening blood clots. Patients refuse VTE prophylaxis at a rate of nearly 50% higher than other medications. The team will implement the nurse education model and patient education bundle at 10 trauma centers nationwide, further examine data on missed and refused doses and the effect on trauma patients at high risk of blood clots, and conduct a qualitative study to tailor the education tool for different healthcare settings so that it can be implemented nationwide.

“We have shown the program works for a wide variety of patients at an academic medical center and a smaller community hospital,” says Dr. Haut. “Now, I am excited to implement it to improve care for injured patients across the country.” Haut is Associate Professor of Surgery, Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Health Policy & Management at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and The Bloomberg School of Public Health. Read more about the implementation study and the award HERE.

All implementation sites are members of the CLOTT study group (Coalition of Leaders in Thromboembolism) and include the Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical University of South Carolina, Oregon Health Science University, Lancaster General Hospital, Stanford Health Care, Scripps Health, The University of Maryland, University of California San Diego, University of Utah, and one other to be named.