News Releases
Coumadin® Clinic Comes to Paulding County Hospital
Friday, August 28, 2009
Paulding County Hospital has developed a much needed service for patients who need anticoagulation therapy, or prevention of blood clots forming in their body. The anticoagulation clinic, sometimes referred to as a “Coumadin® Clinic” is an outpatient monitoring service provided for patients that have been prescribed warfarin or Coumadin®. Some examples of patients who may need anticoagulant therapy include hip or knee replacement, deep vein thrombosis (clots), or pulmonary embolism. For other anticoagulant usage, the diagnosis may be Atrial Fib, myocardial infarction, a pacemaker implant, or placement of a mechanical heart valve.
Since this program involves the laboratory and the pharmacy, Barb Hoersten, Director of Pharmacy and Laura Roth, Laboratory Director have developed a program that will be managed by the pharmacy at Paulding County Hospital. The patient will come to the hospital and have a finger stick performed by lab personnel. This test result is calculated almost immediately and a pharmacist will perform the patient evaluation and consultation, make any necessary dosage adjustments and manage the patient’s prescription, including refills of their Coumadin® medication. Once the patient is regulated, they only need to be seen once a month by the pharmacist. Until that point however, more visits will be necessary.
Many things can affect anticoagulant levels in a patient including diet, other medication interactions, even vitamins or herbal supplements. The patient will be provided the dosage of anticoagulant both verbally and in writing at the time of the appointment.
The obvious benefits to this program are the immediacy of the dosage adjustment and the fact that the patient will not have to travel long distances for medication monitoring and adjustments.
For more information about the Anticoagulant Clinic at Paulding County Hospital call 419-399-1796.
