Issues in developing an outpatient deep venous thrombosis treatment program: university hospital experience.

Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are safe and effective in the treatment of venous thromboembolic disease. Since they require less therapeutic monitoring than unfractionated heparin and may be administered to outpatients, it is possible to decrease overall health care costs of patients diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) without compromising quality of care. In developing protocols for outpatient management of DVT, treatment components must be analyzed and adapted to meet the needs of populations served by specific health care settings. Issues include medicolegal risk, financial analysis, program coordination, patient selection, product selection, timing, administration strategies, education, and outcomes monitoring.