Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which comprises deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), causes significant mortality and immediate- and long-term morbidity. The pathophysiology of VTE can be attributed to Virchow’s triad of hypercoagulability, venous stasis, and endothelial injury. An array of risk factors relating to these elements predispose patients to the development of VTE, including personal and family history of VTE, age, obesity, hospitalization, cancer, trauma, and sepsis, among others. For patient populations at high risk of VTE, such as surgical patients, the use of appropriate prophylaxis is crucial for prevention. Prophylactic doses of unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin are the most widely used pharmacologic interventions for VTE prevention. Although proven effective, these measures carry an increased risk of bleeding. Clinicians should employ validated risk stratification tools like the Caprini risk score, IMPROVE-DD score, or Padua score to identify patients who would benefit from courses of prophylaxis. These tools may be integrated into the electronic medical record and linked to prophylaxis protocols to ensure high rates of clinician compliance.