DVT/PE Screening Strategy

I currently work in a hospital setting where an increase of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolisms (PE) occurrences have been identified among hospital inpatients. The hospital has talked about forming a committee comprised of key stakeholders to identify current barriers so that an organizational wide policy can be developed and implemented. My strategy would be to successfully implement a policy protocol across the multi-disciplinary team that will improve outcomes by providing education and guidance in eliminating hospital acquired deep vein DVTs and PEs occurrences among all admitted patients. The policy will include preoperative patient assessments and guidelines for administering DVT prophylaxis. Additionally, the policy
Moreover, by achieving the stated outcomes in this policy the hospital can improve the quality of patient care delivered by decreasing the risk of DVT/PE which in turn will decrease complication rates, eliminate hospital re-admission within 30 days due to DVT/PE or complications from a DVT/PE, and improved patient
It is vital that nurse and physician feedback is involved in the process for both their knowledge and experience as wells as being an advocate for the patient (Porche, 2012). The role of nursing staff and physicians is to ensure the DVT/PE assessments are completed timely and on a consistent basis. In addition to education both written and verbal if a patient is identified as being at risk for DVT/PE in order to obtain consent. Studies have shown that patient engagement leads to better health outcomes. I believe the biggest barrier in implementing this policy will be the nursing staff and physicians as they are directly impacted by this policy. They may see the policy as being redundant and creating more work in filling out an additional pre-operative form in addition to creating more work amid staff who are already working under time constraints. The addition of another form could possible create confusion or may get lost among the current pre-operative forms. Additionally the nurses may not find an additional checklist useful if a physician is not routinely completing their portion of the form. In regards to the physician some may see the checklist in this policy as redundant if they routinely incorporate requests for blood work and