Surgeon General Issues Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Deep-Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism

September 25, 2008 – Acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven K. Galson released a Call to Action on Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) on September 15. The Call to Action seeks to raise public awareness of this blood condition, increase research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of DVT and PE, and share evidence-based practices.

In an effort to support the goals of the Call to Action, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a new guide for clinicians, "Preventing Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism - A Guide for Effective Quality Improvement," as well as a new consumer booklet, "Your Guide to Preventing and Treating Blood Clots."