News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Devorah Goldburg
Premier Inc.
202.879.8004
Premier healthcare alliance launches comprehensive Web site on deep vein thrombosis
(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) March 25, 2008 – Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is
the third most common cause of preventable hospital-related deaths in the
United States. VTE can manifest as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a clot in a
vein. It can also manifest as a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism if it
breaks loose and moves into the lung.
Although VTE is a common risk for certain hospitalized patients, many non-hospitalized people also have inherent risks and reasons for concern. March marks DVT Awareness Month, and to further promote awareness of risks and prevention strategies for DVT, Premier’s Safety Institute has launched a comprehensive Web site on this condition. The Premier Safety Institute is the nation’s most recognized resource on hospital safety issues, and its Website receives more than five million hits annually.
“The goal of the VTE Website is to provide quick access to resources to identify the risks and implement and track prevention strategies,” said Premier Safety Institute Vice President Gina Pugliese.
The site – www.premierinc.com/safety – is publicly available and contains tools, best practices and guidelines from a variety of professional organizations and healthcare groups, including Premier. The site helps medical professionals conduct risk assessment, identify opportunities for improvement and benchmark success.
Preventing VTE and its complications remains a national priority for healthcare quality and safety professionals. Offering surgical patients preventive therapy for DVT is among the performance measures that hospitals must publicly report to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to be eligible for their full Medicare payment. According to CMS’ Hospital Compare Web site where this data is publicly shared, 79 percent of hospitals report that physicians have ordered DVT preventive therapy for patients having certain types of procedures. DVT is also one of the hospital-acquired conditions that CMS is considering for reduced payment in 2009.
About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
recipient
Serving 1,700 U.S. hospitals and more than 49,000 other healthcare sites,
the Premier healthcare alliance and its members are transforming healthcare
together. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier operates one of the
leading healthcare purchasing networks and the nation's most comprehensive
repository of hospital clinical and financial information. A subsidiary
operates one of the nation's largest policy-holder owned, hospital
professional liability risk-retention groups. A world leader in helping
healthcare providers deliver dramatic improvements in care, Premier is
working with the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West and the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to improve hospital performance.
Premier’s Safety Institute provides publicly available safety resources and
tools to promote a safe healthcare delivery environment for patients,
workers, and their communities. Headquartered in San Diego, Premier has
offices in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, and Washington. For more
information, visit www.premierinc.com.
Established to improve the health of communities, Premier and its members
are transforming healthcare together.
About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
Serving more than 2,000 U.S. hospitals and nearly 50,000 other healthcare
sites, the Premier healthcare alliance and its members are transforming
healthcare together. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier operates one of
the leading healthcare purchasing networks and the nation's most comprehensive
repository of hospital clinical and financial information. A subsidiary operates
one of the nation's largest policy-holder owned, hospital professional liability
risk-retention groups. A world leader in helping healthcare providers deliver
dramatic improvements in care, Premier is working with the United Kingdom's
National Health Service North West and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in San Diego, Premier
has offices in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, and Washington. For more
information, visit www.premierinc.com.