The Institutional Impact VTE Mentored Quality Initiative was developed to help practitioners apply published evidence to patient care. While a wealth of published data and guidelines are available, the challenge is often putting into action what health care providers know needs to be done. This initiative is designed to provide practitioners with support toward improving their institution’s VTE prevention practices through a team-based approach.

VTE prevention is a system-wide issue, and it doesn’t affect a single type of health care provider. Physicians in a variety of disciplines, including hospitalists, internists, cardiologists, and surgeons, manage patients at risk for VTE.  In addition, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and case managers are part of the team caring for these patients. Each team member brings his/her own perspective, knowledge, and logistical insights to the table.

This initiative recognizes that in order to be a part of a new system, everyone needs to come together to develop the system.

The team that applies may be led by any type of health care provider – physician, pharmacist, nurse, or case manager. The critical element is that the applicant’s health system is motivated to make change – to improve VTE prophylaxis among their patients.

A variety of disciplines should be a part of the Institutional Impact Team. The team may include both frontline providers and managers from all disciplines, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, case managers, and quality improvement and information technology staff. Ideally, the team members will contribute a variety of knowledge and experience – patient care, quality improvement, past VTE projects, etc.

The Team Leader is the primary contact for the ASHP Advantage Mentors before, during, and after the Institutional Impact visit. All correspondence will be sent to the Team Leader. The Team Leader is responsible for working with ASHP Advantage staff to coordinate all aspects of the Mentors’ onsite visit.

In addition to the online application, a signed Applicant Agreement is required to complete the application process. The Application Agreement is necessary to demonstrate the health-system’s desire to participate in this initiative. The Selection Panel wants to know that health-system leadership supports the planned quality improvement initiative so that the Faculty Mentor onsite visits will be productive.

The Selection Panel seeks to know the applicant’s goals for improvement and how the applicant’s team plans to approach it. As a part of the Mentored Quality Initiative, the Faculty Mentors can assist participants, if needed, in refining the project plan prior to implementation.

Funding is available to support up to 6 participating sites in the Institutional Impact VTE Mentored Quality Initiative.

The faculty mentors have expertise in VTE prevention and quality improvement tactics. The mentors function as physician-pharmacist teams, modeling the team-based approach to VTE prevention. (See Faculty Mentors)

There is no fee for applying or participating in the Institutional Impact VTE Mentored Quality Initiative. ASHP Advantage will coordinate all aspects of the Faculty Mentors’ travel at no expense to the participating health-systems.

The Institutional Impact VTE Mentored Quality Initiative is planned by an educational steering committee comprised of physicians, pharmacists, and other experts (See Faculty) and coordinated by ASHP Advantage. The initiative is supported by an educational grant from Ortho-McNeil, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., administered by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC.

Mentor responsibilities

• Conduct teleconference with Team Leader in advance of the onsite visit.
• Review site’s materials (including pre-visit survey, VTE quality improvement project plan, existing institutional protocols and policy and procedure documents) in advance of onsite visit.
• Travel to site for one-day mentoring visit.
• After the onsite visit, provide a custom recommendation report of proposed interventions.
• Conduct teleconference with Team Leader after the onsite visit.

Institutional Impact Team responsibilities

• Coordinate the Mentors’ onsite visit itinerary with ASHP Advantage staff.
• Provide materials to ASHP Advantage in preparation of onsite visit, including (1) pre-visit survey, (2) comprehensive (draft) plan for VTE quality improvement project, and (3) existing institutional protocols and policy & procedure documents related to anticoagulation therapy and VTE prevention.
• Implement at least one VTE quality improvement project within 90 days of the onsite visit.
• Measure and report baseline and outcome data for the project.

Contact ASHP Advantage at support@ashpadvantage.com.