The Nurse Practitioner • May 2021 15 enous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important concern in the primary care setting. VTE includes two associated medical conditions: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The 1-month case mortality for VTE is between 2.8% and 12%, and a conservative estimate of the economic burden to the US healthcare system is $7 to $10 billion annually for newly diagnosed, medically treated patients. 1,2 Newer evidence-based guidelines suggest the optimal approach to diagnosing VTE includes pretest probability clinical decision rules, d-dimer testing, and appropriate imaging studies. 3,4 ■ Background The incidence of VTE is estimated at 0.1% to 0.2% annually with the condition affecting more than