Saint Francis Hospital becomes Oklahoma’s first NBCA VTE Center of Excellence

By AI, Created 1:21 PM UTC, June 03, 2026, /AGP/ – The National Blood Clot Alliance has named Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa Oklahoma’s first Venous Thromboembolism Center of Excellence. The designation highlights the hospital’s blood clot prevention and treatment programs and places it in a national network focused on improving outcomes for patients with DVT and pulmonary embolism.

Why it matters: - Venous thromboembolism, which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, affects up to 900,000 Americans each year and contributes to as many as 100,000 deaths annually. - The designation signals that Saint Francis Hospital has met a national standard for coordinated blood clot prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. - The recognition matters for patients because VTE care depends on fast recognition, standardized protocols, education and collaboration across specialties.

What happened: - The National Blood Clot Alliance named Saint Francis Hospital Oklahoma’s first NBCA Venous Thromboembolism Center of Excellence. - The announcement was made June 3, 2026. - Saint Francis Hospital is in Tulsa and is Oklahoma’s largest hospital. - The hospital joined a national network of healthcare organizations focused on blood clot prevention, treatment and long-term management.

The details: - The NBCA program recognizes institutions with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to VTE care across the full patient continuum. - The designation covers prevention, early identification, acute intervention, follow-up care, patient education, quality improvement and community awareness. - Saint Francis earned the designation through collaborative multidisciplinary teams working to improve evidence-based VTE care in inpatient and outpatient settings. - The hospital’s recognition is part of participation in the NBCA COE program, which includes organizations nationwide committed to improving outcomes and awareness around blood clot prevention and treatment. - The NBCA said more information is available at StopTheClot.org.

Between the lines: - The designation reflects a broader shift toward systemwide care for blood clots rather than isolated treatment decisions. - Saint Francis’ size and regional reach suggest the program may affect a large patient population across eastern Oklahoma. - The recognition also gives the hospital a credential that can support patient trust and reinforce clinical coordination.

What’s next: - Saint Francis Hospital is expected to continue using multidisciplinary protocols and patient education to strengthen VTE care. - The hospital will remain part of the NBCA’s national network of VTE Centers of Excellence. - NBCA will continue expanding awareness, prevention and clinical excellence programs for blood clot care.

The bottom line: - Saint Francis Hospital now carries a national blood clot care designation, and Oklahoma has its first NBCA VTE Center of Excellence.