TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 15 The National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia (NATT) praised Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH for issuing an historic "Call to Action" (CTA) to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
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RADM Galson presented the CTA this morning in Washington DC (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/deepvein/calltoaction/call-to-action-on-dvt-2008.pdf ). Dr. Galson called for "the development of a coordinated strategy to improve awareness of DVT and PE," pointing out that blood clots "contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year."
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"Today will be forever remembered as the turning point in the battle against blood clots," said NATT President Randy Fenninger. "NATT is committed to working aggresively to build on the momentum of this important CTA.
NATT is executing a strategic plan of awareness and education (consumers, patients and health professionals), outreach, advocacy and support towards achieving the goals of the CTA.
Blood clots are far more frequent than most people understand because they are often secondary to other other underlying illnesses or conditions. For example, some of those most vulnerable to DVT/PEs include people being hospitalized, undergoing major surgery (e.g. hip or knee replacement) or living in nursing homes. Others at risk include people with cancer, travellers on long trips (e.g. train, airplane), older age, obesity, women on hormone replacement therapy, birth control (pills, patch, ring) or pregnancy/recently gave birth or genetic/hereditary or acquired blood clotting disorder.
NATT Medical Director Stephan Moll, MD said "the CTA underscores the public health urgency of preventing the hundreds of thousands of deaths and DVT/PEs that occur each year."
In cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control, NATT will be convening "Stop the Clot Forums" for patient and consumer education:
-- October 4 - Minneapolis, MN
http://www.stoptheclot.org/Trifold_self-mail_wForm_v1-2.pdf
-- October 18 - Baltimore, MD
-- November 22 - Raleigh-Durham, NC
In the past year, CDC has designated thrombosis as a priority, increasing surveillance of DVT/PE in the US and entering into a cooperative agreement with NATT to educate patients, the public and healthcare professionals. In August, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued final regulations that recognizes DVT/PE as Hospital Acquired Conditions for patients undergoing hip/knee replacement surgery because, with proper prophylaxis, DVT/PE can be prevented most of the time.
Contact:
Alan Brownstein
914.220.5040
SOURCE National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia
