Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality within European Union (EU) countries. Managing the risk of VTE for hospitalised medical patients requires a thorough assessment. Risk assessment templates enable clinicians to assess the risk of VTE but they are often not available or not completed.

Purpose This study aimed to assess whether completion of a VTE risk assessment template significantly increased the rate of appropriate VTE risk management.

Material and methods A risk assessment template, which included appropriate prophylaxis measures, was created and attached to the medication administration record for medical patients admitted to the hospital from the acute medical assessment unit (AMAU). Medical patients from the emergency department (ED) were admitted, as normally, without recourse to this assessment template. Details of the VTE risk management of patients admitted from both units over a period of 1 month were collected and reviewed for appropriateness.

Results 207 patients were included for analysis (AMAU=122, ED=85). 50 patients (41%) admitted from AMAU had a risk assessment completed on admission. 43 (86%) were given appropriate prophylaxis. 72 patients (59%) admitted from AMAU did not have a risk assessment completed. 47 (65.3%) were given appropriate prophylaxis. 46 patients (54.1%) from ED patients, where no risk assessment template was provided, were given appropriate prophylaxis. The rate of appropriate prophylaxis for patients admitted from AMAU with a completed risk assessment was significantly higher than patients admitted from AMAU without a completed risk assessment (p=0.0121) and patients admitted from ED (p=0.0001).

Conclusion Medical patients with a completed risk assessment template were significantly more likely to have their risk of VTE managed appropriately after admission. This study highlights the importance of completing risk assessment templates to manage the risk of VTE for hospitalised medical patients. Measures should be put in place to ensure that a VTE risk assessment template is completed for all medical patients on admission to hospital.

References and/or acknowledgements 1. Cohen A, Agnelli G, Anderson FA, et al. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Europe. Thromb Haemost2007;98:756–64.

No conflict of interest