The National Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Consortium® is once again honored to host this supplement of Endovascular Today, entitled Bridging the Data Gap in Pulmonary Embolism: Innovative Initiatives From The PERT Consortium®. The National PERT Consortium® is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2015 and based in Massachusetts. As implied by the moniker in our name (“Pulmonary Embolism Response Team”), we are dedicated to the team-based treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). We are a multinational organization and strive to be the vehicle of change to improve the care and survival of patients with PE. The Consortium is comprised of a “coalition of the willing”: pulmonologists, emergency physicians, cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, hospitalists, pharmacists, hematologists, advanced practice providers, and others working collaboratively in the care of patients with PE at our member institutions.

The formal mission of the Consortium is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information related to the care of patients with PE and advance the science of PE care by performing research, developing advanced treatment protocols, and educating clinicians and community members. The purpose of The PERT Consortium® aligns with our mission—to serve the general public by undertaking activities to advance PE care and promote research. Specifically, the Consortium aims to:

  • Promote the adoption of the PERT model in all health care institutions to ensure the prompt diagnosis and treatment of PE
  • Expand the current body of scientific evidence regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PE through the promotion and funding of scientific endeavors
  • Educate the general public and health care professionals regarding PE diagnosis, treatment, and care

As we reflect on our accomplishments to date, The PERT Consortium® Quality Assurance database is currently the largest PE-centered registry with almost 6,000 patients. Using the backbone of the registry, we have created a robust research infrastructure to begin meaningful clinical projects. Membership in the Consortium has continued to grow, as have educational offerings, clinically oriented initiatives, and publications. Our multiple active committees and projects offer vast opportunities for membership engagement and leadership, both nationally and abroad.

The supplement to Endovascular Today highlights a number of our endeavors and program initiatives over this past year, all of which demonstrate our ongoing vision for comprehensive PE care. We have included a thorough review of the challenges encountered during interhospital transfers, a template for management of transitions of PE care (in-hospital, during discharge, and follow-up care), and an update highlighting the promise of our PE registry. Additional contributions describe the participation/cosponsorship of the Consortium in a landmark transatlantic clinical research trial (HI-PEITHO) and our head-on approach to tackling venous thromboembolism during COVID-19.

Finally, our 7th Annual Scientific Symposium, “What Is Known and What We Need to Know: A State-of-the-Art Scientific Update,” will be held in Boston on October 15-16, 2021. This year’s meeting will be hybrid for those who are unable to attend in person. In 2020, our virtual meeting had more than 1,000 attendees from 38 countries. We are excited to “see” our colleagues at this year’s meeting to continue to enhance, expand, and share our knowledge on PE. Please visit www.pertconsortium.org to register and learn more about The PERT Consortium®.

Most importantly, we would like to recognize and thank our industry sponsors for their continued support of The PERT Consortium® and its underlying mission and specifically for their contributions that enable us to produce this informative supplement.

Please enjoy and contact us with further questions as needed.

Brent Keeling, MD
President-Elect, PERT Consortium®
Board of Directors

Soophia Naydenov, MD
Past Education Committee Head