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Best practice DVT approach may save health systems $4 million annually
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A best practice approach to deep vein thrombosis prevention that limits use of sequential compression devices for short-stay procedures and uses unfractionated heparin rather than low-molecular-weight heparin for inpatient procedures could result in up to $4 million in yearly savings for health systems, investigators at Georgetown University School of Medicine concluded in a recent study in Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
“At one time, there seemed to be a therapeutic advantage to using a low-molecular-weight heparin,” John R. Kirkpatrick, MD, MBA, FACS, professor of surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine, in Washington, D.C., stated in a university press release. “Studies now indicate there is no advantage in using low-molecular-weight heparin for prophylaxis,” he stated.
Kirkpatrick and colleagues evaluated four MedStar Health system hospitals in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area that switched to a best practice approach for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis from one that relies on use of sequential compression devices and low-molecular-weight heparin. They compared these hospitals to ones that stayed with their usual practice for DVT. Not only did the change from their usual practice to best practice save these health systems nearly $4 million annually, Kirkpatrick and colleagues determined that influencing physician supply and material choices was the most effective way to decrease costs.
Contrary to popular belief, best practices are static rather than dynamic, Kirkpatrick stated in the release.
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“A physician is doing what his memory is telling him is the right thing to do, however, this [course of action] may no longer be the right thing,” he stated. “To avoid this dilemma you need to have a mechanism within hospitals to always upgrade or modify your usual practice, recognizing that while it reflected a best practice at one time, that is no longer the case.””
Reference:
Kirkpatrick JR. J Am Coll Surgeons. 2013; doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2012.12.030.
Disclosure: Kirkpatrick has no relevant financial disclosures.