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Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality

Preventing Venous Thromboembolism

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein—and pulmonary embolism (PE)—a blood clot that travels to the lungs—together comprise the most common preventable cause of hospital-related death. Known together as venous thromboembolism (VTE), they claim more than 100,000 lives a year in the United States.

There is strong evidence that anti-clotting medications and mechanical prophylaxis, such as compression devices, can prevent a majority of blood clots in the hospital. Yet blood clot prevention is truly complicated. Prescribers must tailor prophylaxis to the individual patient, by considering risk factors and contraindications. Studies have found that appropriate prophylaxis is ordered for only 32 percent to 59 percent of patients. Additionally, an emerging body of research shows that once prophylaxis is ordered, treatments often do not reach patients.

Why Focus on VTE Prevention?

PE graphicClick on the image to view the full size version.
  • VTE is common. There are an estimated 350,000 to 900,000 new cases annually in the United States during or after hospitalization. An additional 1 million estimated VTE cases are not related to hospitalization.
  • VTE is deadly. Patients with a pulmonary embolism, when a blood clot travels to the lungs, have a 30 percent to 60 percent to chance of dying from it. Lower-extremity DVT has a 3 percent mortality rate, associated with blood clots that travel from the legs to the lungs.
  • VTE is preventable. Best practice prophylaxis reduces VTE incidence by an estimated 70 percent.
  • VTE frequently has complications. As many as 60 percent develop conditions such as postthrombotic syndrome, a long-term complication that causes pain, swelling, discoloration and, in serious cases, ulcers in the affected limbs.
  • VTE is recurrent. Between 10 percent and 30 percent of people who survive an initial VTE develop another one within five years.
  • VTE treatment is costly. Each DVT costs $10,000 and each PE costs $16,000, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

See our Strategies for Venous Thromboembolism Prevention

Patient Information

Patient VTE Information Handout

VTE FAQs

Content from the handout is adapted below. 

Johns Hopkins Venous Thromboembolism Symposium

The VTE Collaborative, with support from the Armstrong Institute and Department of Medicine, holds a VTE Symposium every March that highlights some of the latest research on venous thromboembolism and features a keynote speaker who is a national authority in this field.

See past presentations

Video Gallery

How Do I Prevent Blood Clots?

Blood clots claim more over 100,000 lives yearly in the United States. Yet as serious a health issue as blood clots are, studies have shown at-risk patients often don’t receive treatments known to help prevent them.

- Watch on YouTube

National Blood Clot Alliance Stop the Clot

The National Blood Clot Alliance (NBCA) is a non-profit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the prevention, early diagnosis and successful treatment of life-threatening blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and clot-provoked stroke.

- Watch on YouTube

Our Team

Formed in 2005, the Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Collaborative provides evidence-based standards for venous thromboembolism risk assessment, ordering and administration of patient-specific prophylaxis, while also advancing the science of blood clot measurement. Members include a hematologist, trauma surgeon, pharmacist, clinical informatician, intensive care nurse, nurse educator, medical writer/editor, human factors engineer and researchers.

  • Elliott Haut, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., Vice-Chair Quality, Safety and Service, Associate Professor of Surgery and Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Core Faculty, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Twitter: @ElliottHaut
  • Deborah B. Hobson, B.S.N., M.S.N., Safety and Quality Improvement Specialty in Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Chris G. Holzmueller, B.L.A., Medical Writer/Editor, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Brandyn D. Lau, M.P.H., C.P.H., Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science, Clinical Informatician at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Associate Faculty, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality Twitter: @LauzeeTweet

  • Oluwafemi P. Owodunni, M.D., M.P.H., Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Twitter: @Femiowodunni
  • Dauryne L. Shaffer, M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., Nurse Educator, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Michael B. Streiff, M.D., F.A.C.P., Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Associate Faculty, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
  • Mujan Varasteh Kia, MPH, Research Assistant, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
  • Kristen L.W. Webster, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Human Factors Engineer, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Twitter: @LiseWelsh

News and Publications

Regularly featured in national media, the following is a collection of the outlets where the VTE Collaborative has helped advance public knowledge on blood clot prevention and measurement.