To better comprehend and prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hip and knee replacement patients, the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS) recently distributed a survey from Chicago headquarters to orthopedic surgeons and clinicians nationwide.
PPAHS reports that hip and knee replacement operations are common U.S. procedures, with approximately one million such surgeries performed annually.
"VTE is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide," Michael Wong, PPAHS founder and executive director, said. “PPAHS has had a long interest in preventing venous thromboembolism, and has brought together panels of health experts to develop the OB VTE Safety Recommendations and the Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), VTE is among the top three reasons for hospital readmissions within 30 days of undergoing this type of surgery.
The PPAHS survey was open to the public until 5 p.m. Nov. 4 for eligible patients. To promote involvement, the organization sponsored a lottery for all entrants who completed the survey, giving patients a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card as well as to receive a copy of the survey report.
PPAHS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting safer clinical practices and patient standards for health care experts, medical professionals and scientific researchers. The group regularly monitors opioid safety, blood clot (VTE) safety and alarm system safety for hospitalized patients.
