It is intuitive that a reduction in the DVT/PE rate will translate into costs savings for the health care system and the patient, although this study was not powered or designed to study actual costs of treating DVT/PE. Costs associated with treating a DVT/PE are variable, but have been estimated to range from $9805 to $14,722.16 Taking these estimates and applying them to the current study, reducing the DVT/PE rate from 11.4 to 7.1 from pre-implementation to post-implementation, the total cost savings may be up to $4118 per TKA/THA discharge. Beyond cost considerations, the reduction of DVT/PE leads to improved patient outcomes and a reduction in morbidity and mortality.
Conclusion
Multidisciplinary teams are capable of effecting sustained improvements in patient care and outcomes when paired with lean management practices and a commitment to quality improvement. Collective efforts towards education, removal of barriers to carry out best practice, and having physicians champion the prevention of DVT/PE led to a clinically significant and sustained improvement in patient outcomes.
Corresponding author: Michelle Lucki, MSN, BSN, RN, Grant Medical Center, 111 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215; Michelle.Lucki@ohiohealth.com.
Financial disclosures: None.
Acknowledgment: The authors thank Vijendra Mohan, MD, for his internal medicine expertise given on behalf of this effort.
