Background: Guidelines recommend pharmacologic venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis for high risk hospitalized medical patients that do not have an elevated bleeding risk.  A systematic review of randomized trials estimates the overall bleeding risk with pharmacologic prophylaxis to be low, at 1/1000 (0.1%).  However, it is unclear if the bleeding events were related to pharmacologic prophylaxis [...]

Background: Guidelines and quality performance measures recommend venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in patients hospitalized with stroke if they have paralysis or are confined to bed and also recommend that all hospitalized medical patients have VTE risk assessment performed. The Padua Prediction Score is a validated VTE risk prediction model for medical patients based on clinical [...]

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious and all too frequent hospital complication, therefore assessing each patient’s individual risk of VTE is an important part of their care.  Multiple models are available for risk assessment, however most not only include multiple data points requiring redundant entry, but can be labor intensive and time-consuming to complete on [...]

Background: Current national guidelines recommend using mechanical methods for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in hospitalized medical patients at elevated risk for thrombosis who have a contraindication to pharmacologic prophylaxis. Additionally, it is recommended to avoid the use of mechanical prophylaxis for patients who are at low risk for VTE. The Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium, [...]

Background: Studies have linked the use of anti-secretory agents to nosocomial complications including Clostridium difficile–induced pseudomembranous colitis and hospital acquired pneumonia. In the outpatient setting, the Federal Drug Administration has issued warnings regarding increased risk of hypomagnesemia as well as fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with the use of proton pump inhibitors. Although [...]