eMeasure Title Incidence of Potentially-Preventable Venous Thromboembolism
eMeasure Identifier
(Measure Authoring Tool)
114 eMeasure Version number 3
NQF Number 0376 GUID 32cfc834-843a-4f45-b359-8e158eac4396
Measurement Period January 1, 20xx through December 31, 20xx
Measure Steward Joint Commission
Measure Developer Joint Commission
Endorsed By National Quality Forum
Description
This measure assesses the number of patients diagnosed with confirmed VTE during hospitalization (not present at admission) who did not receive VTE prophylaxis between hospital admission and the day before the VTE diagnostic testing order date.
Copyright
Measure specifications are in the Public Domain.

LOINC(R) is a registered trademark of the Regenstrief Institute.

This material contains SNOMED Clinical Terms (R) (SNOMED CT(C)) copyright 2004-–2010 International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer
These performance measures are not clinical guidelines and do not establish a standard of medical care, and have not been tested for all potential applications. The measures and specifications are provided without warranty.
Measure Scoring Proportion
Measure Type Outcome
Stratification
None
Risk Adjustment
None
Rate Aggregation
None
Rationale
The concept of “failure to prevent” has generated interest in national health policy organizations to identify evidence-based practice that will improve patient safety in the hospital setting (Wachter et al 2008). The incidence of preventable venous thromboembolism (VTE) among hospitalized patients is overwhelming, and contributes to extended hospital stays, and the rising cost of health care. Zhan 2003, states that “VTE was the second most common medical complication of postoperative patients, the second most common cause of excess length of stay, and the third most common cause of excess mortality and excess charges”. According to Arnold, D.M. (2001), preventable VTE is defined as “objectively diagnosed Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or Pulmonary Emboli (PE) that occurred in a setting in which thromboprophylaxis was indicated but was either administered inadequately or not administered at all.” In spite of formal guidelines, and recommendations for preventative care, pulmonary embolism is still the most common preventable cause of death among hospitalized patients (Wachter et al, 2008).
Clinical Recommendation Statement
Failure to prevent VTE can result in delayed hospital discharge or readmission, increased risk for long-term mobidity from post-thrombotic syndrome, and recurrent thrombosis in the future.
Improvement Notation
A decrease in the rate
Reference
Arnold DM, Kahn SR, Shrier I. Missed opportunities for prevention of venous thromboembolism: an evaluation of the use of thromboprophylaxis guidelines. Chest. 2001 Dec;120(6):1964-71.
Reference
Guyatt, G.H., Akl, E.A., Crowther, M., Gutterman, D., Schunemann, H. Antithromboitic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th edition: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. CHEST 2012; 141(2)(Supp):7S-47S.
Reference
Wachter, R., Shojania KG, Duncan, B.W., McDonald, K.W., et al. Making health care safer: a critical analysis of patient safety practices; evidence report/ technology assessment No 43. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Publication 01-E0582001.2001. Retrieved October 11, 2011 from http://archive.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/ptsaftp.htm.
Reference
Zhan, C., Miller M.R. Excessive length of stay, charges and mortality attributable to medical injures during hospitalization. JAMA 2003; 290:1868-1874.
Definition
None
Guidance
The unit of measurement for this measure is an inpatient episode of care. Each distinct hospitalization should be reported, regardless of whether the same patient is admitted for inpatient care more than once during the measurement period. In addition, the eMeasure logic intends to represent events within or surrounding a single occurrence of an inpatient hospitalization.

When low dose unfractionated heparin is not administered due to medical reasons, the intended administration route is subcutaneous.

The construct of Unfractionated Heparin (route: 'Intravenous route') intends to capture continually infused heparin rather than heparin flushes or pushes.
Transmission Format
None
Initial Patient Population
Patients age 18 and older discharged from hospital inpatient acute care with a diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE)and a length of stay less than or equal to 120 days.
Denominator
Patients who developed VTE confirmed by a diagnostic test during hospitalization.
Denominator Exclusions
Patients with comfort measures documented
Patients with a principal diagnosis of VTE
Patients with VTE present at admission
Patients with reasons for not administering mechanical and pharmacologic prophylaxis
Numerator
Patients who received no VTE prophylaxis prior to the VTE diagnostic test order date.
Numerator Exclusions
Not Applicable
Denominator Exceptions
None
Measure Population
Not Applicable
Measure Observations
Not Applicable
Supplemental Data Elements
For every patient evaluated by this measure also identify payer, race, ethnicity and sex.

Table of Contents


Population criteria

Data criteria (QDM Data Elements)

Reporting Stratification

Supplemental Data Elements




Measure Set
eMeasure Venous Thromboembolism (eVTE)