Hospitals Increase DVT Prevention Efforts After Medicare Threatens To Cut Payments

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Public Health;  Vascular;  Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 02 Apr 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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A growing number of hospitals have stepped up efforts to prevent pulmonary embolisms and deep-vein thrombosis after Medicare recently said it would not provide payments for treatment of the conditions in patients undergoing hip or knee surgery, the Wall Street Journal reports. Pulmonary embolisms can occur when a blot clot forms in a deep leg or pelvis vein, known as DVT, and moves up to the lung blocking the pulmonary artery. According to the Journal, pulmonary embolisms are the leading cause of preventable hospital deaths. Studies have shown that about one-third of patients receive recommended prevention therapies, such as giving certain patients blood-thinning medication and using special compression socks after surgery to improve circulation in the legs.

The Surgeon General in 2008 listed DVT prevention as a national priority, and starting this year, the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals, will ask hospitals to report data on DVT, including what they are doing to prevent and treat the condition. Premier, a hospital-purchasing alliance, has launched a program co-sponsored by Medicare that assists about 250 hospitals with complying with DVT-prevention measures (Landro, Wall Street Journal, 4/1).

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