St. Joseph’s/Candler Center for Medication Management offers an anticoagulant monitoring clinic

When used properly, medications can be lifesaving. However, many come with side effects that need to be monitored not just by you but a team of healthcare professionals. One example is blood thinners.

Anticoagulants, also known as blood thinners, reduce or prevent the coagulation (clotting) of blood. This decreases the chances for complications of preexisting blood clots or preventing the formation of new ones, therefore reducing the chances of a stroke.

For patients who develop blood clots or who are at high risk of blood clot formation, blood thinners may be a  recommended treatment option. These patients should be aware there is an increased risk of heavy bleeding, even with the slightest of cuts, due to the thinning of the blood. Because of this risk, as well as the already high risk of strokes, anticoagulants can be harmful if misused.

To ensure patients on blood thinners properly use all their medications, the St. Joseph’s/Candler Center for Medication Management offers an outpatient anticoagulant monitoring clinic and service line dedicated to keeping patients on blood thinners safe. The clinic is recognized by the Anticoagulation Forum as an Anticoagulation Center of Excellence.

“You cannot mess around when you are on a blood thinner,” says Afshan Nasrullah, practice administrator for the Center for Medication Management. Nasrullah has worked for St. Joseph’s/Candler for more than 40 years and helped start the anticoagulant program 18 years ago.

“These medications can interact with other medications, with what you eat. We are very strict with our program because we want to keep our patients safe.”

About the program

Pharmacists and nurse practitioners with the Center for Medication Management help patients monitor their blood thinner use and educate patients on anticoagulants, combining medications and any other questions a patient may have.

The program also includes routine blood work to monitor how thick or thin your blood is, says Nasrullah. The number of visits depends on those levels, as well as how long a patient needs to be on a blood thinner and insurance.

Not every anticoagulant medication requires this type of monitoring. The two main blood thinners we monitor are Warfarin and Coumadin, Nasrullah says.

Some examples of conditions that may require blood thinners and anticoagulant monitoring are:

Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm abnormality. Patients with AFib are at a higher risk of heart attacks or stroke.

Related Article: What causes Atrial Fibrillation? 

The heart normally pumps at a consistent rate and rhythm. When patients are in AFib, typically the left atrium of the heart beats faster and more erratically than normal. Since the heart does not beat at consistent times and at the same strength with each pump, blood can pool in the appendage of the heart causing a clot to form. If a clot forms in the heart, the clot can be released from the heart and travel to the brain causing a stroke.

Anticoagulants decrease the chance that blood clots will form in the heart. Not all patients with a history of AFib will require anticoagulants. Be sure to talk to your doctor about all your options.

Related Article: Understand Atrial Fibrillation and its misconceptions

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that forms in deep veins of the legs. This can block blood flow causing pain, swelling, warmth and redness of your legs. DVTs normally occur in only one leg.

These blood clots can potentially travel through the veins to the lungs. When a clot goes to the lungs, this is a called a pulmonary embolism (PE). The blockage can make it hard to breathe, cause sharp chest pain, coughing or coughing up blood and can be potentially fatal.

Anticoagulants stop the blood clots from becoming larger and prevent new clots from forming. Patients who have these blood clots will usually need to be on anticoagulants for three months or longer. Talk to your physician about all your options.

Heart Valve Replacement

The heart pumps blood through the body in one direction. The heart has four chambers and these are separated by tunnels, or valves. Heart valves may get damaged or become blocked over time. This can cause the blood to build up and cause heart, lung or other problems.

Surgery may be the only way to repair the damaged heart valves. Since some of these valves are foreign materials to the body, blood products may stick to them and start to form clots. Depending on the type of heart valve replacement needed, anticoagulation may be recommended long-term.

 

Contact Us

A physician’s referral is needed for the St. Joseph’s/Candler Center for Medication Management anticoagulation monitoring program. It is covered by Medicaid and Medicare, and most insurance companies cover it after a co-pay. Anticoagulation monitoring is available in Savannah and Pooler.

For more information or to have your physician initiate a referral, call us at 912-819-8407. To learn more about SJ/C Center for Medication Management, visit our website.