The 2015 Healthcare-Associated Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Challenge Champions

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes eight hospitals and healthcare systems as Healthcare-Associated Venous Thromboembolism (HA-VTE) Prevention Champions for their success in implementing innovative and effective ways to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE).

The HA-VTE Prevention Challenge was launched to recognize hospitals, managed care organizations, and hospital networks that implemented innovative and effective ways to prevent HA-VTE. CDC is sharing these best practices with others to help strengthen VTE prevention efforts. Applicants were asked to describe the VTE prevention strategy and the specific interventions, methods, and systems used to implement, support, and evaluate their strategy. Entrants also provided evidence showing an increase of VTE prevention activities and/or a decrease in HA-VTE rates. A panel of six judges from across the Department of Health and Human Services rigorously reviewed each entry to determine the top submissions in four categories.

The 2015 Champions range from a small community hospital to some of the country’s largest health systems, representing both rural and urban areas. Together, they cared for more than 450,000 patients admitted to hospitals across the United States in 2014 and they were able to improve VTE prevention within their institutions and organizations by implementing innovative, effective and sustainable VTE prevention initiatives and strategies, such as

Engaging teams of different health care experts to support and promote prevention activities;
Providing education to and increasing awareness among patients and providers of the need for and benefits of prevention;
Using technology (such as electronic risk assessment and clinical decision support tools and alerts) to ensure that all patients are assessed for their risk for VTE and bleeding. These tools also help ensure patients, when appropriate, are provided with and use appropriate prevention measures for their level of risk; and
Providing real-time feedback, scorecards and dashboards for providers and organizations to monitor performance and identify areas for improvement.

CDC also recognizes and highlights four organizations that received Honorable Mentions for their innovative and unique approaches to prevention in special populations and settings.

CDC, along with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, is proud to share the success of these organizations and highlight their innovative strategies that have resulted in exceptional VTE prevention outcomes.

Congratulations, Champions!