Johns Hopkins Study Demonstrates Impact of Computers in Helping Doctors
Prevent DVT and PE in Hospital Trauma Patients
Tarrytown, NY – February 1, 2013 – A recent study of adult trauma patients being admitted at Johns Hopkins demonstrated that the use of a mandatory computerized clinical decision support tool increased the use of clinical guidelines to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The use of these guidelines resulted in a significant decrease of DVTs and PEs.
National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) president, Randy Fenninger said, “reduction of death and disability caused by blood clots in hospitalized patients is a major priority for the NBCA. This study demonstrates that electronic tools can help physicians improve the prevention of blood clots. NBCA is very encouraged by this result and urges physicians and hospitals to make greater use of this kind of electronic protocol.” To access the article, selecthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23070407
Jack Ansell, Chair of NBCA’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (MASAB) said that, “this study shows that physicians, guided by a mandatory computerized algorithm, increase the use of anticoagulants (blood thinners) to prevent blood clots in hospitalized trauma patients illustrates the benefits of electronic medical tools to aid physicians in preventative care, especially the prevention of blood clots, for which current prophylaxis is widely under prescribed.”
The National Blood Clot Alliance’s mission is to advance prevention, early diagnosis and successful treatment of blood clots, clotting disorders and clot-provoked strokes through public awareness, advocacy and patient and professional education.
