Project on deep vein thrombosis care standards announced

AORN Journal, Nov, 2004

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the National Quality Forum (NQF) will collaborate on a project to develop and standardize performance measures for prevention and care of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), according to a Sept 27, 2004, news release from the two organizations. The NQF will oversee the project and be responsible for aspects related to the development of organizational policies and procedures, care practices, and improvement interventions. The Joint Commission will create and test a DVT performance measure set. The measure set will be developed under the guidance of a content-specific expert panel and will undergo the NQF's consensus development process, which can lead to formal endorsement of the measures as national voluntary consensus standards.

Nearly all hospitalized patients are at risk for DVT, particularly those who undergo major surgery or have prolonged inactivity. Deep vein thrombosis affects approximately two million Americans and causes 200,000 deaths each year.

Joint Commission, National Quality Forum to Work on Deep Vein Thrombosis Prevention and Care Project (news release, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill; Washington, DC: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; National Quality Forum, Sept 27, 2004).