\n New American Heart Association effort will bring together diverse hospitals to create scalable models for timely, effective pulmonary embolism treatment\n <\/p>\n
DALLAS, October 31, 2025 \u2014 Pulmonary embolism (PE), a type of blood clot in the lungs, sends more than half a million people to U.S. hospitals each year \u2014 and kills about one in five high-risk patients, according to the American Heart Association 2025 statistical update<\/a>. PE is the third leading cause of cardiovascular death in the U.S.[1]<\/a> While progress has been made in PE care, pulmonary embolism remains underdiagnosed, undertreated and inconsistently managed.<\/p>\n To address these gaps in care, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, is launching a three-year quality improvement initiative, supported by Inari, now part of Stryker, to better understand barriers and advance best practices for pulmonary embolism diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.<\/p>\n The Pulmonary Embolism Quality Improvement Initiative<\/a> will convene a 20-site national learning collaborative representing urban, rural and under-resourced communities. These diverse care teams will share data, insights and experiences through an \u201call teach, all learn\u201d approach aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing disparities across systems of care. The new initiative aims to:<\/p>\n
\u201cThis initiative aims to support the ongoing mission of improving PE care by formally examining the barriers to implementation that hospitals face in the real world,\u201d said Jay Giri, M.D., MPH, American Heart Association volunteer and lead author of the American Heart Association\u2019s scientific statement<\/a> on interventional therapies for acute pulmonary embolism. Giri is also director of the Cardiovascular Catheterization Laboratories at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; director of the Penn Cardiovascular Outcomes, Quality & Evaluative Research Center; and associate professor at the Perelman School of Medicine. \u201cBy applying the specific lens of implementation science, we hope to generate new insights on overcoming system-level challenges to PE care. We will make these findings publicly available, providing new data and potential frameworks to help the entire PE community accelerate their vital work.\u201d<\/p>\n PE is a type of venous thromboembolism<\/a> (VTE), or blood clots in the veins. PE occurs when a blood clot breaks free, usually from a deep vein in the legs, and becomes lodged in the vessels supplying the lungs. VTE is a potentially life-threatening condition that contributes to up to 100,000 deaths each year in the United States.[2]<\/a> From 2008 to 2018, PE-related mortality increased, underscoring the urgency of intervention.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re proud to support the American Heart Association on this important initiative,\u201d said Tim Lanier, president, Stryker, Inari Division. \u201cBy supporting the Association\u2019s investment in scalable, evidence-based solutions, we can help ensure more patients have access to the best possible treatment regardless of where they live.\u201d<\/p>\n Learn more at heart.org\/PEQualityImprovement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Additional Resources:<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n About the American Heart Association For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173<\/p>\n Michelle Rosenfeld: michelle.rosenfeld@heart.org<\/a><\/p>\n For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)<\/p>\n heart.org<\/a> and stroke.org<\/a><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Sethi S, Parikh S. Pulmonary Embolism Management \u2013 The New Frontier for Interventional Therapies? American Heart Association Professional Heart Daily. May 11, 2023. https:\/\/professional.heart.org\/en\/science-news\/interventional-therapies-for-acute-pulmonary-embolism\/Commentary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tIdentify knowledge and practice gaps in PE care
\n\tDevelop solutions to known and unknown barriers
\n\tDisseminate key insights to inform and support scalable, evidence-based PE care pathways
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\nThe American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public\u2019s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on\u202fheart.org<\/a>,\u202fFacebook<\/a>,\u202fX<\/a>\u202for by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.\u202f\u202f\u202f<\/p>\n