TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s statutory Blood Clot and Pulmonary Embolism Policy Workgroup has released its final report, supporting a detection system and policies to improve care standards, detection, treatment, and education on the serious risk posed by blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. The workgroup was established by The Emily Adkins Prevention Act, which was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in July 2023. The law was passed in honor of its namesake, a 23-year-old Fernandina Beach woman who tragically died on October 21, 2022, due to a preventable blood clot caused by a fractured ankle. The report set out multiple findings and recommendations for the state, including: ● Blood clots are a major public health threat: Up to 45,800 Floridians experience blood clots each year, with pulmonary embolism remaining a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths. ● Statewide monitoring and standardized care are critical: Florida should create a statewide surveillance system to track cases and improve early detection, and hospitals and health care facilities should be required to conduct risk assessments to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate blood clot treatment. ● Expanding public awareness and access to care: Education campaigns should be conducted for both the public and health care providers, medical facilities should improve post-discharge follow-ups for high-risk patients, and state support should be provided for specialized treatment centers to enhance care and reduce preventable deaths. “Our goal is to prevent other families from experiencing the heartache we’ve endured,” said Doug Adkins, Emily’s father and CEO of Emily’s Promise. “The recommendations provided by the workgroup will make meaningful progress toward making sure that people don’t die from easily preventable complications with blood clots.” Dr. Ali Ataya, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Florida, leads the workgroup. Other members include representatives from the National Blood Clot Alliance and the Florida Senate. The report also included expert consultations from doctors at the University of Florida, University of Chicago, Indiana University, and Cleveland Clinic. Blood clots are a serious health epidemic in Florida and across the country. The report documents that blood clots account for 10% of all maternal morality and are the leading cause of preventable deaths in hospitals. The report also explores the economic impacts of blood blots, including an annual cost of $7-10 billion to manage new diagnoses. To learn more about the recommendations of the Blood Clot and Pulmonary Embolism Policy Workgroup, view the full report here.  ### ABOUT EMILY’S PROMISE Emily’s Promise, Inc. is a not-for-profit private foundation dedicated to the memory of Emily Elizabeth Adkins and raising awareness of blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and ankle fractures, along with promoting kindness as a community value.