• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
    • Our Attorneys
    • Our Staff
      • Sheila Chavez
      • Marin Gorman
    • Mission Statement
    • Community Service
    • Charities We Support
    • Secret Settlements – Our Stand
    • Patrick Malone & Associates Offers Scholarship to Law Students for Representing Real People
  • Attorneys
    • Patrick Malone
    • Daniel C. Scialpi
    • Alfred Clarke
    • Heather J. Kelly
    • Aaron M. Levine, Of Counsel
    • Peter R. Masciola, Of Counsel
  • Focus Areas
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Hospital Errors
      • Cancer Misdiagnosis
      • Diabetes
      • Kaiser HMO Malpractice
      • Military Malpractice
      • Hospital Security Misconduct
    • Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
      • Brain Injuries From Medical Care
      • Lead Poisoning
      • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
      • TBI Long-Term Care & Rehabilitation
    • Baby & Child Injuries
      • Birth Injuries
      • Infant/Child Brain Injuries
      • Shaken Baby Syndrome
      • Pediatric Anesthesia Errors
      • Jaundice/Kernicterus
      • Bacterial Meningitis
    • Sex Abuse of Children and Youths
      • Sexual Abuse Claims in Washington D.C.
    • Auto, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents
      • Car Accidents
        • Maryland Car Accidents
        • Virginia Car Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Train Accidents
    • Defective & Dangerous Products
    • Dangerous Drugs
      • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
    • Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
    • Consumer Rights
    • Accounting and Legal Malpractice
      • How To Sue Your Lawyer For Malpractice
      • Common Legal Malpractice Claims
      • Damages For Legal Malpractice
      • Missing The Deadline For A Lawsuit
  • Success
    • Verdicts & Settlements
    • What Our Clients Say
    • True Stories
  • Publications
  • Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Steps in the Legal Process
    • The Jury Trial System
    • Legal Deadlines for Filing Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
    • Better Health Care Newsletter from Patrick Malone
    • Sign Up for Our Free Newsletter on Getting Better Health Care
    • Free Fact Kit for Injury Victims
    • Tips for Patient Safety and Better Health Care
    • Health Care Advocates’ Power Kit
    • For Attorneys
    • More Legal Resources
    • Fellow Inner Circle Members
    • DC Hospital Ratings Map
    • Motor Vehicle Accident Blog
    • Washington D.C. Bike Map
    • Commute Risk Calculator
  • Patient Safety Blog
    • ProtectPatientsBlog.com
  • Malpractice A-Z
  • Contact Us

Patrick Malone Law

Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Law Firm | Patrick Malone Law

CALL US TODAY:

202-742-1500
888-625-6635

Are You A Lawyer Seeking Co-Counsel ?
  • About Us
    • Our Attorneys
    • Our Staff
      • Sheila Chavez
      • Marin Gorman
    • Mission Statement
    • Community Service
    • Charities We Support
    • Secret Settlements – Our Stand
    • Patrick Malone & Associates Offers Scholarship to Law Students for Representing Real People
  • Attorneys
    • Patrick Malone
    • Daniel C. Scialpi
    • Alfred Clarke
    • Heather J. Kelly
    • Aaron M. Levine, Of Counsel
    • Peter R. Masciola, Of Counsel
  • Focus Areas
    • Medical Malpractice
      • Hospital Errors
      • Cancer Misdiagnosis
      • Diabetes
      • Kaiser HMO Malpractice
      • Military Malpractice
      • Hospital Security Misconduct
    • Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
      • Brain Injuries From Medical Care
      • Lead Poisoning
      • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
      • TBI Long-Term Care & Rehabilitation
    • Baby & Child Injuries
      • Birth Injuries
      • Infant/Child Brain Injuries
      • Shaken Baby Syndrome
      • Pediatric Anesthesia Errors
      • Jaundice/Kernicterus
      • Bacterial Meningitis
    • Sex Abuse of Children and Youths
      • Sexual Abuse Claims in Washington D.C.
    • Auto, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents
      • Car Accidents
        • Maryland Car Accidents
        • Virginia Car Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Train Accidents
    • Defective & Dangerous Products
    • Dangerous Drugs
      • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
    • Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
    • Consumer Rights
    • Accounting and Legal Malpractice
      • How To Sue Your Lawyer For Malpractice
      • Common Legal Malpractice Claims
      • Damages For Legal Malpractice
      • Missing The Deadline For A Lawsuit
  • Success
    • Verdicts & Settlements
    • What Our Clients Say
    • True Stories
  • Publications
  • Resources
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Steps in the Legal Process
    • The Jury Trial System
    • Legal Deadlines for Filing Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
    • Better Health Care Newsletter from Patrick Malone
    • Sign Up for Our Free Newsletter on Getting Better Health Care
    • Free Fact Kit for Injury Victims
    • Tips for Patient Safety and Better Health Care
    • Health Care Advocates’ Power Kit
    • For Attorneys
    • More Legal Resources
    • Fellow Inner Circle Members
    • DC Hospital Ratings Map
    • Motor Vehicle Accident Blog
    • Washington D.C. Bike Map
    • Commute Risk Calculator
  • Patient Safety Blog
    • ProtectPatientsBlog.com
  • Malpractice A-Z
  • Contact Us
Call
Contact
Blog
You are here: Home / Useful Information / Tips for Patient Safety and Better Health Care / Blood Clots: Preventing Death

Blood Clots: Preventing Death

Patient Safety Tips For Preventing Injury From Pulmonary Embolism

Safety TipsHere are three main tips for preventing harm from pulmonary embolism – a lethal but usually preventable killer.

  • In the hospital, ask what the blood clot prevention strategy is. An amazing percentage of time it is forgotten by providers busy with other work. At the best hospitals now, simple checklists have been implemented to make sure that every patient’s risk for clots is measured and appropriately acted on. Dr. Joseph Caprini, a Northwestern University surgeon, developed a two-page form that boils down thousands of pages of medical studies into a simple scoring system for clot risk and a recipe for what each level of risk calls for by way of preventive treatment. You can see a copy of the form here. Anybody who has had a clot in the past or who has a family history of clots is at especially high risk, another reason to speak up for any hospitalized family member with that background.
  • Learn the signs and symptoms of blood clots in the legs. Here’s a list from the National Institutes of Health:
    • Swelling of the leg – either just in the calf or the whole leg, or sometimes along a vein.
    • Pain or tenderness in a leg – usually just with one leg. This might happen only when walking or standing.
    • Increased warmth in the affected part of the leg that is swollen or that hurts.
    • Red or discolored skin on the affected leg
  • Learn the warning signs of pulmonary embolism. The problem is that pulmonary embolism usually occurs suddenly. The most common signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism are severe shortness of breath; chest pain that gets worse with a deep breath, coughing, or chest movement; or coughing up blood. Sometimes, small pulmonary emboli can occur over time. These emboli may cause a more gradual onset of symptoms. Other less-specific things might happen, including:
    • Rapid breathing
    • Anxiety or feeling of dread
    • Sweating
    • Lightheadedness or fainting
    • Increased heart rate

Here is more information from the NIH on how doctors diagnose pulmonary embolism. Just remember, prevention of clots in the legs is the best strategy, and next best is treatment of small clots so they never get big enough to go to the lungs.

Consult with an Experienced Malpractice Attorney

If you believe you or a family member has been seriously injured from medical malpractice, medical error, or neglect by a doctor, hospital, nurse, clinic, nursing home or other health care provider, you may want to click here to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney for a free evaluation of your case. You can also email us at info@patrickmalonelaw.com or call us at 202-742-1500 or 888-625-6635 toll-free. We will respond within 24 hours. There is no charge for our initial consultation.

Primary Sidebar

Contact Us

Focus Areas

  • Medical Malpractice
  • Birth Injury
  • Auto, Truck & Motorcycle Accidents
  • Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Defective Products
  • Dangerous Drugs
  • Nursing Home Neglect & Abuse
  • Consumer Rights
  • Accounting & Legal Malpractice

Resources

The Lawsuit Process
  • Free Fact Kit for injury victims
  • FAQs about injuries & the legal process
  • Steps in the legal process
  • Legal deadlines for your lawsuit
  • What to expect from your “independent” medical examination
  • The jury trial system
Medical Resources
  • Patient Safety Tips
  • Health Care Advocates’ Power Kit
  • DC Hospital Rating Map
  • Patient Safety Newsletter
    from Patrick Malone
For Attorneys
  • Books for Attorneys
  • Expert Witness Resources
  • Articles
  • Briefs
  • Closing Arguments in Trial
  • Medical Society Statements on Expert Witness Testimony
  • Cross Examination Transcripts

What Our Clients Say

  • Client reviews on
  • Client reviews on
View more

Patient Safety Blog by Patrick Malone & Associates

  • Communication
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Medications
  • Hospitals
  • Preventive Care
  • Research Studies
  • Accessibility of Health Care
  • Disclosure
  • Primary Care
  • Product Safety
View More Topics

Footer

Our Location

  • PATRICK MALONE & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

    1310 L Street NW
    Suite 800
    Washington, DC 20005

  • Phone: (202) 742-1500
  • Toll Free: (888) 625-6635
  • EMAIL
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin

What We Do

  • Brain And Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Birth Injury
  • Auto, Truck And Motorcycle Injuries
  • Defective And Dangerous Products
  • Dangerous Drugs
  • Nursing Home Neglect And Abuse
  • Consumer Rights
  • Accounting and Legal Malpractice

Directions

Get Directions

© 2023 Patrick Malone & Associates, P.C. | All Rights Reserved | Legal Notice