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Anticoagulation Care Program

What is anticoagulation?
Anticoagulation is a treatment for clotting disorders. Patients with certain types of irregular heartbeat or heart valve replacements are often prescribed anticoagulants, such as warfarin (Coumadin). Warfarin impairs the ability of the blood to form new clots and prevents existing clots from growing larger.

The Anticoagulation Care Program at Baylor Family Medicine assists patients with clotting disorders. The program is staffed by a clinical pharmacist with specialized training in anticoagulation. The pharmacist assists the physician in managing anticoagulation therapy through warfarin. This is done through the use of a laboratory test called a pro-time/INR, which is performed through a finger stick. Based on the results from this test, the pharmacist adjusts the warfarin dose to ensure proper levels of anticoagulation.

What does a Pro-Time (INR) test measure?
A pro-time test measures the time it takes your blood to clot. The finger stick pro-time test procedure involves:

• A finger stick to get a blood sample
• Placing a drop of your blood on a glass slide
• Inserting the slide into a CoaguChek machine that measures the time it takes for your blood to clot
• The clotting time reading will be displayed in about 30 seconds

How often will I need to come in for an appointment?
When you first start taking warfarin, it will be necessary to schedule frequent visits. Once your warfarin dose is stabilized, you will visit every 2 to 3 weeks and then once a month.

What should I expect at each visit?
At each visit, the clinical pharmacist will:

• Check your pro-time level by performing a finger-stick test
• Review your therapeutic goals
• Review your medication doses
• Assess any reactions and drug or drug/food interactions
• Discuss any concerns or questions you may have
• Determine any dosage changes
• Provide educational materials

After each visit, the pharmacist will send a report to your physician.

Anticoagulation appointments
Anticoagulation appointments are available Mondays and Thursdays.

When should I call my anticoagulation care team?
You should call anytime you:

• Notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, such as
• After a serious fall or trauma
• After a cut or other injury (i.e. prolonged bleeding)
• In your urine (red or dark brown) or stool (red or tarry black)
• Take new medications or have any change in your current medications (i.e. prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, natural products or vitamins)
• Take a different brand of warfarin
• Have considerable changes in how much you eat
• Know of a scheduled medical or dental surgery
• Are pregnant or planning to get pregnant

Payment
Payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Your co-payment, as required by your insurance company, is collected when you sign in. This expedites your departure after seeing your physician.

Billing questions
Billing questions should be directed to Baylor College of Medicine's centralized billing office at 713.798.1900.