Physician-Patient Alliance Partners with World Thrombosis Day

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Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Nov 17, 2016, 09:45 ET

CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS), an advocacy group dedicated to improving patient safety, has been invited to become a partner of World Thrombosis Day, an international multi-organizational campaign devoted to increasing global awareness about thrombosis, including its causes, risk factors, signs/symptoms, evidence-based prevention and treatments.

Venous thromboembolism (commonly known as blood clots) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Anyone can develop blood clots. Make sure you and your loved ones are assessed before undergoing a hospital procedure. Ask about options to help prevent blood clots, such as intermittent pneumatic compression devices and anti-clotting medication.

Thrombosis is the local coagulation or clotting of the blood in a part of the circulatory system, also known as blood clots. When blood clots break loose and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, it can cause pulmonary embolism, a serious condition that can cause lung damage, low oxygen levels in blood, brain damage, and even death.

VTE is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide.

World Thrombosis Day aims to highlight the need for action on thrombosis, specifically underscoring the unrecognized threat and serious consequences (morbidity and mortality) related to venous thromboembolism (VTE).

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it is estimated that thrombosis and pulmonary embolism affect between 300,000 and 600,000 people in the United States each year.

Says Michael Wong, JD, Founder and Executive Director of PPAHS:

"We are extremely proud to be partnering with World Thrombosis Day. Blood Clot Safety is one of the biggest areas for improvement in delivering patient care. We share a common objective in improving outcomes for patients at risk of thrombosis. Too many people in the United States die from venous thromboembolism each year, especially among stroke victims, expectant mothers, and orthopedic patients.

"With a panel of experts in obstetrics and stroke, PPAHS has developed and released OB VTE Safety Recommendations and Stroke VTE Safety Recommendations, free clinical tools designed to help clinicians identify patients at risk of VTE and prescribe prophylaxis treatments that improve patient safety. We have surveyed orthopedic patient safety experts to develop practical solutions to prevent VTE in patients undergoing hip and knee replacement and look forward to continuing efforts to improve the safety of patient care in the United States and worldwide."

World Thrombosis Day makes available a number of free resources for partners. Access these resources here and share them with your hospital or healthcare facility.

About Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to promote safer clinical practices and standards for patients through collaboration among healthcare experts, professionals, scientific researchers, and others, in order to improve healthcare delivery. For more information, please go to www.ppahs.org.

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SOURCE Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety