Computerized Decision Support for Prevention of VTE in Hospitalized Medical Patients Across the Continuum of Care (DC-eALERT) (DC-eALERT)

February 24, 2026 updated by: Gregory Piazza, MD, MS, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Randomized Controlled Trial of Computerized Decision Support for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Medical Patients Across the Continuum of Care (DC-eALERT)

Hospitalized medical patients have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) across the continuum of care, including after hospital discharge. In the APEX Trial of hospitalized patients with acute medical illness, extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis with oral betrixaban reduced the frequency of asymptomatic proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic proximal or distal DVT, symptomatic nonfatal pulmonary embolism (PE), or VTE-related death compared with short-duration enoxaparin. Obstacles to integration of these data in the hospitalized Medical Service patient population, including failure to identify at-risk patients, educational gaps in strategies for VTE prevention after discharge, and medication nonadherence, can be overcome with alert-based computerized decision support. This study is a single-center, 400-patient, randomized controlled trial of an EPIC Best Practice Advisory (BPA; alert-based computerized decision support tool) to increase prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and decrease symptomatic VTE in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness.

Specific Aim #1: To determine the impact of electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC Best Practice Advisory [BPA]) on prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness who are not being prescribed any prophylactic anticoagulation for VTE prevention after discharge.

Specific Aim #2: To estimate the impact of electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC BPA) on the frequency of symptomatic VTE in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness who are not being prescribed any prophylactic anticoagulation for VTE prevention after discharge.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Design: U.S.-based, single-center, randomized controlled trial

Background: Hospitalized medical patients have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) across the continuum of care (from before admission to after discharge). In the APEX Trial of 7513 hospitalized patients with acute medical illness, reduced mobility, and risk factors for VTE, extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis with oral betrixaban for 35 to 42 days reduced the frequency of asymptomatic proximal deep venous thrombosis (DVT), symptomatic proximal or distal DVT, symptomatic nonfatal pulmonary embolism (PE), or VTE-related death by 24% in the overall study population compared with 10-14 days of enoxaparin. The integration of oral betrixaban with a computerized decision support (CDS) tool has the potential to increase the appropriate prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis in high-risk patients hospitalized with medical illness.

Study Design: 400-patient U.S.-based single-center Quality Improvement Initiative in the form of a randomized controlled trial focused on the feasibility of implementation of this electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC BPA) (Figure 1). The allocation ratio will be 1:1 for an electronic alert-based CDS (EPIC BPA) notification versus no notification.

Study Population: Patients are eligible if they are ≥40 years of age, are hospitalized for acute medical illness (heart failure, respiratory failure, infectious disease, rheumatic disease, or ischemic stroke), have reduced mobility, and have one additional risk factor for VTE:

  1. Age ≥60
  2. Prior VTE
  3. History of cancer

Eligible patients are not prescribed thromboprophylaxis at hospital discharge.

Intervention: An EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) Best Practice Advisory (BPA) will identify patients hospitalized with medical illness who are not ordered for extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis 48 hours after admission. A first on-screen electronic alert will provide the clinician with the opportunity to consider extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and start any required processes for prior authorization or medication coverage. A second on-screen electronic alert will be issued if extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis has still not been ordered that again notifies the provider about the increased risk for VTE after discharge and indication for thromboprophylaxis.

Primary Efficacy Outcome: Prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis. Investigators will review the order entry section of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination.

Secondary Efficacy Outcome: Frequency of symptomatic VTE at 90 days from randomization. Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as symptomatic VTE, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.

Primary Safety Outcome: Major bleeding (as defined by the ISTH bleeding classification system) at 90 days from randomization. Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as bleeding, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.

Follow-Up: Follow-up will consist of Electronic Health Record review at 90 days from randomization.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

400

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
        • Recruiting
        • Brigham and Women's Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Gregory Piazza, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Samuel Z Goldhaber, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

-≥40 years of age, are hospitalized for acute medical illness (heart failure, respiratory failure, infectious disease, rheumatic disease, or ischemic stroke), have reduced mobility, are not prescribed thromboprophylaxis at hospital discharge, and have one additional risk factor for VTE:

  • Age ≥60
  • Prior VTE OR
  • History of cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

- Prescribed thromboprophylaxis at hospital discharge

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Alert
On-screen electronic alert that notifies the provider about the increased risk for VTE after discharge and indication for thromboprophylaxis will be issued 48 hours after admission. This first on-screen electronic alert will provide the clinician with the opportunity to consider extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and start any required processes for prior authorization or medication coverage. The provider then will be given on-screen options to either order thromboprophylaxis (betrixaban or low-molecular weight heparin for 35 days) from a "Extended-Duration VTE Prevention" order template, follow a link to evidence-based practice guidelines, or defer prescribing extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.
On-screen electronic alert that notifies the provider about the increased risk for VTE after discharge and indication for thromboprophylaxis will be issued 48 hours after admission. This first on-screen electronic alert will provide the clinician with the opportunity to consider extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis and start any required processes for prior authorization or medication coverage. The provider then will be given on-screen options to either order thromboprophylaxis (betrixaban or low-molecular weight heparin for 35 days) from a "Extended-Duration VTE Prevention" order template, follow a link to evidence-based practice guidelines, or defer prescribing extended-duration, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.
No Intervention: No Alert
No notification to the provider.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frequency of prescription of extended-duration post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.
Time Frame: 90 days
Investigators will review the order entry section of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination.
90 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Frequency of symptomatic VTE at 90 days from randomization.
Time Frame: 90 days
Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as symptomatic VTE, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.
90 days
Frequency of major bleeding (as defined by the ISTH bleeding classification system) at 90 days from randomization.
Time Frame: 90 days
Investigators will review the notes and diagnostic testing sections of the Electronic Health Record (EPIC) to make this determination. The proposed study will not be powered to show a difference in clinical events, such as bleeding, with the electronic alert-based CDS but will provide estimates from which to plan a possible subsequent multi-center trial.
90 days
Frequency of all-cause mortality at 90 days
Time Frame: 90 days
Any death confirmed by medical record
90 days
Frequency of all-cause rehospitalization at 90 days
Time Frame: 90 days
Any rehospitalization confirmed by medical record
90 days

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Medication adherence
Time Frame: 35 days
The proportion of patients who completed the 35-day course of post-discharge thromboprophylaxis.
35 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gregory Piazza, MD, MS, BWH

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 31, 2022

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 30, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 31, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

November 1, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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