Impact of a student-supported pharmacy assessment program on venous thromboembolism prophylaxis rates in hospitalized patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the addition of a student-supported venous thromboembolism risk assessment strategy could improve rates of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis at a community teaching hospital.


METHODS
After receiving education and training on venous thromboembolism risk assessment, students assessed patients and recommended therapy in a 493-bed community teaching hospital over 5 weeks. Both the quantity and quality of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis were measured and compared to a baseline rate.


RESULTS
One hundred three recommendations were made to physicians with a 41% acceptance rate. Compared to previous rates, the percentages of patients receiving "any," "suitable," and "optimal" venous thromboembolism prophylaxis increased from 70.5% to 82.7% (p = 0.0005), 64.4% to 75.9% (p = 0.0022), and 56.3% to 68.5% (p = 0.0022), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A student-supported venous thromboembolism risk assessment strategy resulted in an increase in venous thromboembolism prophylaxis rates and could be used as a model for other institutions to integrate students into population-based care.
St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, MO 65212, USA. butkievichl@health.missouri.edu
Laura E
LE
Butkievich
Zachary A
ZA
Stacy
Michael W
MW
Daly
Way Y
WY
Huey
Charles T
CT
Taylor
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult