WASHINGTON , Representatives of consumer,
clinical, and research groups came together today at a National Quality Forum
(NQF) summit to devise a national plan to increase public awareness of the
dangers surrounding deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and push clinicians and
researchers to close the existing knowledge gaps . NQF, a non-profit organization (qualityforum.

Clots that break free from their point of origin then travel to the lungs, resulting in pulmonary emboli.

dvt coagulation

Among the many victims was NBC News Correspondent David Bloom. "With
this resolution, we hope to raise public awareness for DVT-a serious yet
preventable condition-so that others, like David Bloom, will not suffer at its
hand."
Of those who develop PE, up to 200,000 will die each year, which is more
than from breast cancer and AIDS combined."
This resolution advances the mission of the Coalition to Prevent DVT-an
organization of more than 35 leading public health organization seeking to
raise awareness of this condition.
March is DVT Awareness Month. Yet, evidence shows
that of patients at risk for DVT, only about one-third actually receive
treatment -- despite the fact that it is often diagnosable and treatable.

embolism venous

vein prone

"DVT strikes millions unknowingly each year," Senator Specter said.

About the Coalition to Prevent Deep -Vein Thrombosis
In February 2003, more than 60 organizations assembled at the Public
Health Leadership Conference on Deep-Vein Thrombosis in Washington, D.

prone thrombosis

To commemorate the resolution 's passage, Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet
the Press" and NBC News Washington Bureau Chief will be serving as master of
ceremonies of a reception in the US Capitol March 3, in memory of David Bloom ,
with Senators Specter and Dorgan as honored guests. Its portfolio
includes the endorsement of performance measurement consensus standards,
educational programs for health care leaders on key environmental trends, and
award recognition programs.

The veins deep within the legs are prone to develop blood clots, especially in patients who are bedridden or following surgery.

bedridden venous

"This little -known condition hospitalizes up to 600,000 people each year,
causing additional healthcare costs of more than $20,000 per person, per
case," said Senator Byron Dorgan, chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke
Coalition. Corrigan, PhD, MBA, President and CEO of NQF.

NQF's mission is to dramatically improve quality of care.

perils emboli

"DVT is a serious medical condition for which virtually every adult is at
risk," said Janet M. Everyday activities -- including traveling long distances , undergoing
surgery, receiving treatment for cancer, pregnancy, or even suffering an
injury - - can lead to development of a DVT.

haemostasis clots

prompted clot

Coalition Medical Advisory Board Member Geno Merli, M. The condition
may result in health complications, such as PE and even death if not diagnosed
and treated effectively.

The mission of the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis is:
To reduce the immediate and long-term dangers of deep-vein thrombosis
(DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), which together comprise one of the nation's
leading causes of death.

DVT Factoids:
Every person is at risk of suffering a DVT, commonly known as a blood
clot.
VTE, which encompasses DVT and pulmonary embolism (PE), is the most common
preventable cause of hospital death .

This results in a common, and serious, condition known as deep venous thrombosis, or DVT.

emboli coagulation

preventdvt .
The summit was a daylong series of briefings, discussions, and working
sessions that focused on setting a plan of action to help reduce the incidence
of DVT by advancing knowledge among clinicians , researchers, and consumers.
Prophylaxis is one component of the prevention of DVT but at least 50
percent of those diagnosed and hospitalized with DVT have not received
preventive treatment .

bedridden clot

"If we are able to raise awareness, we'll save health care costs,
but more importantly , we'll save lives. of Thomas
Jefferson University exclaimed, "It will take all our collective efforts to
continue to raise the level of awareness about this common yet preventable
condition.

prone clots

While covering the war in Iraq, Bloom was stricken with a fatal pulmonary
embolism (PE), a complication of DVT.D. It
is important to consult your healthcare provider about the signs and symptoms
associated with DVT. To date, more than
35 organizations have joined the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis ,
comprised of national thought leaders and representatives from key
organizations, including the American College of Chest Physicians, the
American Public Health Association and the Society of Hospital Medicine.

haemostasis thromboses

public health priority. The Coalition will educate the public, healthcare
professionals and policy-makers about risk factors, symptoms and signs
associated with DVT, as well as identify evidence-based measures to prevent
morbidity and mortality from DVT and PE.

vein thrombosis

"
DVT occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in one of the large veins,
usually in the lower limbs, leading to circulation blockage.
Over 900,000 Americans suffer VTE each year, with about 400,000 of these
being DVT; of the 900,000 about 500,000 suffer PE.

embolism natt

thromboembolism bedridden

bursaries clot

antiphospholipid thromboses

Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Announce Passage of S.RES.56

The resolution passed today is a broad step towards our goal. to
discuss the urgent need to make DVT a major U.
Of the PE cases, some 300,000 are fatal.

pulmonary antiphospholipid

"

About Deep-Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
Deep-vein thrombosis is a medical condition that occurs when a thrombus
(blood clot) forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs,
leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation.

embolism clot

DVT may be caused by a variety of risk factors and triggering events,
including restricted mobility, major surgery, cancer and certain heart or
respiratory diseases.
DVT Awareness Month is sponsored by the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein
Thrombosis and supported by an unrestricted educational grant from
sanofi-aventis.S .

clot natt

Yet, most Americans (74 percent)
have little or no awareness of DVT, according to a national survey sponsored
by the American Public Health Association.org)
with diverse stakeholders across the public and private health sectors, was
established in 1999 and is based in Washington, DC.

clot aventis

With Melanie Bloom, widow of David Bloom,
as its national spokesperson, the Coalition is sponsoring a public education
initiative focused on this preventable silent killer. Preventative treatments for DVT
include early mobilization, sequential compression devices to prevent blood
clotting, and anticoagulants and/or blood-thinning drugs, such as
low-molecular-weight heparin, unfractionated heparin and warfarin sodium. As a
result of this meeting, which was co-hosted by the American Public Health
Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, participants
agreed to establish a Coalition of organizations committed to educating the
public and healthcare community about DVT .

For more information, visit http://www. "That so
many stakeholders from so many diverse backgrounds have convened to work on
this demonstrates the gravity of DVT, both in human and in financial costs.

bursaries thrombosis

The condition
often results in health complications such as a pulmonary embolism (PE), which
is often fatal if not diagnosed and treated properly.

clot pulmonary

Declaring March Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month

- Honors Memory of Fallen NBC News Correspondent David Bloom -

WASHINGTON, With unanimous consent, Senate
co-sponsors Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) yesterday moved to
raise public awareness of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT)-a condition that affects
up to two million Americans annually, according to the American Heart
Association.org .

thrombolytic whiteley

Pulmonary embolism can occur when a fragment of a blood clot breaks loose
from the wall of the vein and migrates to the lungs, where it blocks a
pulmonary artery or one of its branches.

NQF Works to Develop National Action Plan for DVT Prevention Treatment and Research

Symptoms of DVT may include pain, swelling, tenderness, discoloration or
redness of the affected area, and skin that is warm to the touch. However, as
many as half of all DVT episodes are "silent"; for thousands of sufferers, the
first symptom is a PE that is followed by death.