Date: 11/3/16

To:

Faith DeLay
Professor of Technical and Professional Writing
English 402, WSU

From: Jiaju Gu
Hamed Alshamakhi
Stetson Plew
Mariah Frye-Keele
Subject: Deep Vein Thrombosis Repurposing Project
Attached is the report detailing our repurposing project. This project is based
on the previous recommendation report regarding Deep Vein Thrombosis
(DVT) by Stetson Plew. It is an extension of the previous research and has a
goal of creating a brochure to inform the public about this medical condition.
Our team consists of Jiaju Gu, Hamed Alshamakhi, Stetson Plew, and Mariah
Frye-Keele.
The brochure on DVT will provide information to high risk individuals about
the risk factors, symptoms, and prevention methods relating to the disease.
Ideally once finished our brochure could be used at medical facilities where
high-risk individuals will have access to its information. This product will
serve as a guide to providing basic information to patients who are at risk,
currently are diagnosed with DVT, or have a family member with DVT.
The following memo will contain the above information as well as
consolidated research, the results of our research, our conclusions based on
the research conducted as well as our recommendations. Our final
repurposed project will also be included as part of the memo.

DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS (DVT):

Repurposing Research to
Create a Brochure Informing the
Public about DVT

To:

Faith DeLay
Professor of Technical and Professional Writing
English 402, WSU

From: Jiaju Gu
Hamed Alshamakhi
Stetson Plew
Mariah Frye-Keele
November 3, 2016

Table of Contents
Executive Summary

Introduction
Research Methods
Results
Conclusions
Recommendations
Appendices

Executive Summary

Introduction:
We are senior year students at Washington State University awaiting
my graduation. The only problem is our inability to choose a suitable career
path for myself. It has been a journey full of confusion since we dont have
normal choices as an average student would have. The career we are
supposed to choose has to be in line with my needs and wants.
Recently, my health has been a major factor influencing the career path that
we pursue. It has provided limits to what we can choose as well as putting
my active life to a halt. This has encouraged us to search for a career that
suits my health condition. It was in Feb 2016 that we were first diagnosed
with Paget Schroetter Syndrome or deep vein thrombosis. It is a condition
where an individual. It involves a treatment plan that restricts any kind of
physical activity in order to prevent repetitive clogging.
As it is well known any career in sports requires one to engage in more
or less some physical activity, hence the reason for my challenge in getting a
profession in sports that do not involve any physical activities.
Sports have been a passion we have always had, and this is the reason
for our education in Sports Management. Also, another attractive fact about
the Sports Management is the custom responsibilities, flexible working hours,
competing for wages and the list is endless.
Those who are sports fans in the field has a vast area where one could
pursue a career. This area ranges from recruitment officers, facilities
management, events management, business operations, ticketing, and
sales. In this ranges, we found our self interested in both facilities
management and recruitment.

Facility managers are in charge of managing responsible processes and

services that support the core business of an organization. It is the work of
the facility managers to ensure that the organization has the best working
environment where the employees work and all other activities for workers.
They are also involved in position plans, plan budgets, modifications, and
facility schedules to suit the organization.
Recruitment officials are not very different from the facility managers
just that they are involved directly with a direct sports team where they
ensure that there are good relationships between players in an organization.
Both these fields require a vast experience in field sports such football,
baseball, basketball. Knowing so well that we like being in charge, we have
tasked our self to searching the current and top positions in the facility
management level. Even though being a head of a sports franchise seems to
be swallowing more than we can chew, we would comfortably settle for the
responsibility of a sports venue or a sports facility. This is reasonable, and
attainable in regard to the circumstances I am in.

Research Methods
We began our research by interviewing Dr. Johansen; top vascular surgeon in
the Pacific Northwest. He detailed that we as a nation are seeing an
increased number of blood clot cases which has increased patients risk for
Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Evidently after hearing Dr. Johansens
response, Dr. Smith; primary health care provider, agreed with his statement.
She expressed that most of her patients are elderly which is when the risk for
Deep-Vein Thrombosis is at an extreme. In the recent years she has also seen
an increased amount of clotting conditions in the young. After
communicating with both doctors they were concerned the vast majority
doesn't recognize blood clots or the symptoms they posses.
Most individuals aren't aware of the overall history and risk of blood clots and
what the condition Deep-Vein Thrombosis can carry. Creating a brochure that
explains blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis as well as the risk factors and
symptoms seemed vital with the increased cases of blood clots.
To complete our repurposing project we broke it down as follows:
1. Acquire basic group knowledge of blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis
2. Speak to local doctors/specialists/primary care physicians about blood clots
and Deep-Vein Thrombosis
3. Understand our reasoning for repurposing a brochure
4. Understanding of our target market and creating demand of our repurposed
product
5. Implementing our group findings into a finished product
Task 1- Acquire basic group knowledge of blood clots and Deep-Vein
Thrombosis
The first step our group took was establishing basic knowledge of blood clots
and Deep-Vein Thrombosis. It was crucial we understood our repurposed

project and all the details that went into it. Most of the information we
sourced fell into the categories of:

What is a DVT?
Who is at risk?
Signs and symptoms of blood clots/Deep-Vein Thrombosis
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism (condition that could appear

after clotting and Deep-Vein Thrombosis)

Prevention of blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis
The information acquired was sourced from various authors. The internet
provided a basic understanding of the condition. We relied heavily on
government branded websites for factual information and
practitioner/patient reports of previous cases seen. With the vast amount of
information available, we were hesitant at first upon declaring credible
examples/knowledge.
Task 2- Speak to local doctors/specialists/primary care physicians
about blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis
Beforehand, we knew that we could access most of the reliable information
needed to understand blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis online.
However, hearing from a specialist allowed an inside view on the condition
and its frequency in the medical department. Interviewing Dr. Johansen
confirmed our internet findings and also provided some inside information
about the condition. In addition, we interviewed Dr. Smith who deals with
individual blood clot cases on the daily. Hearing from both these individuals
was crucial in understanding our repurposed product.
Task 3- Understand our reasoning for repurposing a brochure
Understanding blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis made it evident that
people need to know about this condition. Both Dr. Johansen and Dr. Smith
admitted this condition is increasing steadily amongst young adults. With

what could be a life-threatening condition it's highly important easilyaccessible information is available to those need/want it.
We contacted local doctor offices about the information that's provided
regarding blood clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis. Surprisingly our results
were as thought; not a single doctor office in Kennewick, WA carried flyers,
pamphlets, brochures detailing the condition. It seemed contraire that no
information was readily available to those who needed it, especially with
increased cases of a life-threatening condition on the rise.
With that being said, it was decided to create an informational brochure that
multiple practices could obtain to spread the awareness of blood clots and
Deep-Vein Thrombosis.
Task 4- Understanding of our target market and creating demand of
our repurposed product
Deciding a target market wasnt to difficult. Ultimately we are targeting
those who are at risk for blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis. Our brochure
contains information regarding the understanding of this condition as well as
signs and symptoms involved. Spreading knowledge of this condition will
allow others to become aware and a brochure seems like the most practical
way to get a lot of important information spread quickly.
Task 5- Implementing our group findings into a finished product
Upon creating our finished product we had to narrow our results into
practical facts to be displayed on the brochure. We had to decide what
information was most important and understanding to those who would be
viewing it. It had to get information across without confusing the viewer.
Results

In this section we will present the results of our research, detailing the most
valid information sourced.
Task 1- Acquire basic group knowledge of blood clots and Deep-Vein
Thrombosis
Our basic research revealed answers to the following:
What is a DVT?
It was revealed that blood clots form when either the flow of blood in a vein
slows, damage to a vein occurs, or the blood has become more clottable.
Many factors can increase a persons risk for developing a blood clot in a
vein (results listed under signs and symptoms of blood clots/Deep-Vein
Thrombosis). When a clot forms in the deep veins of the body, it is called
deep vein thrombosis, which can be referred to as DVT for short. Deep-Vein
Thrombosis occurs most commonly in the leg but can also be seen anywhere
in the body, such as the veins in the arm, abdomen, or around the brain.
Who is at risk?
It was found that individuals who have had recent hospital stays, major
surgeries, knee/hip replacements, trauma or leg paralysis are most
susceptible to blood clots.
Those who are...over the age of 65, experiencing long resting or sitting
periods, going through chemotherapy, having fracturing bones, obese and
those who have blood clots in their family history show a moderate risk to
blood clots.
Individuals who are active and younger than 40 with no prior history of blood
clots are shown to have an average risk of experiencing a clotting condition.
Signs and symptoms of blood clots/Deep-Vein Thrombosis
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute reported that symptoms of
Deep-Vein Thrombosis only occur in about half of the people who have the
condition. Individuals who experience blood clots or Deep-Vein Thrombosis
can expect swelling in the foot, ankle, or leg that usually only appears on one
side. In addition, cramping in the calf, unexplained pain, warmer skin in
surrounding areas.
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism (condition that could appear
after clotting and Deep-Vein Thrombosis)

 Pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening complication derived

from blood clots or Deep-Vein Thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism occurs when
a blood clot breaks off, travels through the bloodstream and lodges itself in
the lung. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include shortness of breath,
chest pain that increases when breathing and unexplained coughing.
Prevention of blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis
While there arent many prevention steps discovered I have included what
we discovered. Its vital to stay active, immobility is shown to increase the
risk of developing clots. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk as
well. Its important to establish a relationship with a primary care provider if
an individual is feeling symptoms of blood clots.
Task 2- Speak to local doctors/specialists/primary care physicians
about blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis
Hearing from a specialist allowed an inside view on the condition and its
frequency in the medical department. Interviewing Dr. Johansen confirmed
our internet findings and also provided some inside information about the
condition. In addition, we interviewed Dr. Smith who deals with individual
blood clot cases on the daily. Hearing from both these individuals was crucial
in understanding our repurposed product.
Dr. Johansen is a world class vascular surgeon located in Seattle, WA. He has
his own personal twist on blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis. The most
common procedure for treating the two conditions is by removing the clot via
catheter. He explained that majority of doctors practice additionally
removing the first rib to give clearance for the vein and new blood flow
through the body. However, Dr. Johansen has found that treating the
condition with compression stockings to cover the extremities and amounts
of physical activity can replace the painful procedure of removing a rib. By
excessively exercising individuals build collateral veins that will take over the
clogged clots role over time. This has been a newly discovered treatment

option and he is currently recording his results to publish a report of his

findings and deploy on a world tour around Europe to express his unique
view.
Hearing from these doctors helped place a medical side to our product. It
verified our internet findings and made our product more supportable.
Task 3- Understand our reasoning for repurposing a brochure
Understanding blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis made it evident that
people need to know about this condition. Both Dr. Johansen and Dr. Smith
admitted this condition is increasing steadily amongst young adults. With
what could be a life-threatening condition it's highly important easilyaccessible information is available to those need/want it.
We contacted local doctor offices about the information that's provided
regarding blood clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis. Surprisingly our results
were as thought; not a single doctor office in Kennewick, WA carried flyers,
pamphlets, brochures detailing the condition. It seemed contraire that no
information was readily available to those who needed it, especially with
increased cases of a life-threatening condition on the rise.
With that being said, it was decided to create an informational brochure that
multiple practices could obtain to spread the awareness of blood clots and
Deep-Vein Thrombosis.
Task 4- Understanding of our target market and creating demand of
our repurposed product
Deciding a target market wasnt to difficult. Ultimately we are targeting
those who are at risk for blood clots and Deep-Vein Thrombosis. Our brochure
contains information regarding the understanding of this condition as well as

signs and symptoms involved. Spreading knowledge of this condition will

allow others to become aware and a brochure seems like the most practical
way to get a lot of important information spread quickly.
Task 5- Implementing our group findings into a finished product
With the research and information obtained we were able to create this
brochure. It includes information regarding Deep-Vein Thrombosis; detailing
individuals at risk, signs and symptoms and prevention steps. A larger view
of the brochure can be found in the appendix .

Conclusion:
It is evident that no matter the situation is in we will get a career choice that
suits my medical needs and wants. Even though the career choice we will
have to choose does not coincide with my career ambition of being a
professional athlete, being the Director for baseball at Kingdome will
otherwise make me feel closer to our dream. Therefore, we have realized
that no matter how life situations impact on your life, with perseverance and

hard work nothing can keep you away from your dream. Therefore we have
purposed to ignore the negative effects my medical condition would have to
my career choice and concentrate on the career choices that present
themselves in the event of my medical condition.

Recommendations
Since our brochure mostly will be used at medical facilities where high-risk
individuals are, we recommend that hospitals help us spreading these
necessary and meaningful information to people. First, our brochure contains
most important information of DVT, include what DVT is, what risk is, who are
in risk, and prevention, etc. that will help people understand it. Second, our
group are confident about the information accuracy since we fully
understand that the information we provide to people will potentially affect
people's life. The information we acquired include first-hand data by
interviewing Dr. Johansen; top vascular surgeon in the Pacific Northwest, and
secondary data from internet research which mostly from government
branded websites. So we did our best to make sure all the information is
accurate, useful and meaningful. Last but not least, according to our
research, at least there is no single doctor office in Kennewick, WA has such
product that contains detail information about DVT. In other words, by having
our brochures placed at doctor offices will both benefit doctors and people.
Doctors will save their time by no need to do basic explanation about DVT to
people since our brochure already contain all the necessary basic
information. People could learn from our brochure and take it to their family
and friends. Most important thing is our information accuracy are
guaranteed. So the reason could make our product unsuccessful is without
hospitals helping. We could place our products at public station such as

metro station, but it will reduce our products purpose. The people walking
around are less likely read such information compare with people who go to
hospital. Therefore, our recommendation would be placed our products at
hospitals area.

Appendix:DVT Brochure
This is the brochure we will use in future. It contains definition of DVT, risk,
signs and symptoms, and prevention. The idea of design is to attract
peoples attention, with red blood cell background explicit indicate it
relevance to blood. The brochure will be placed at hospital where high-risk
individuals are.