Patient preferences for ongoing warfarin management after receiving care by an anticoagulation management service

2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (16) ◽  
pp. 1498-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tammy J. Bungard ◽  
Sheri L. Koshman ◽  
Ross T. Tsuyuki
2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula J. Biscup-Horn ◽  
Michael B. Streiff ◽  
Timothy R. Ulbrich ◽  
Todd W. Nesbit ◽  
Kenneth M. Shermock

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 3517-3517
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Scarvelis

Background: 5% of the population over 65 is on oral anticoagulant therapy. The indications for anticoagulation therapy are wide, not limited to but including treatment of arterial and venous thrombosis, and primary stroke prophylaxis is patients with atrial fibrillation and mechanical cardiac valves. While new oral anticoagulants not requiring monitoring are being more widely prescribed, vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are still being used for many patients in whom the novel agents are contra-indicated (renal failure), not available (funding), or patient/physician preference. Most patients on VKA have their family physicians manage their oral anticoagulants. On average, the time in therapeutic range achieved by family physicians is low (50-55%). There is also a number of patients who have no family physician and are either taking VKA without monitoring, or are having their anticoagulants monitored routinely though emergency room physicians/visits. The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) anticoagulation management service is an e-health solution that offers patients world beating time in therapeutic range (TIR). TOH uses a pharmacy managed DAWN software package (computer-assisted warfarin dosing program). Maintaining patients in therapeutic range for a high percentage of time (greater than 70%) can reduce the risk or recurrent thrombosis (venous or arterial) from under-anticoagulation and the risk of bleeding complications from over-anticoagulation. Well managed VKA therapy has also been suggested to be as safe as therapy with novel oral anticoagulants in some subgroup analysis of studies investigating the novel oral anticoagulants. Objectives/Methods: The purpose of this study was to bring the benefits of the TOH experience to provide a Regional Anticoagulation Management Service across a wide region of eastern Ontario, Canada. This service includes remote blood testing (at a lab near the patient’s home), integrated LIS link to a computerized dosing system (possible through a commercial lab partnership), and communication of dosing and testing instructions via interactive voice recognition (IVRS), email, or live (pharmacist/pharmacist assistant). We administered a patient satisfaction survey to a sample of 111 patients enrolled in the service as well as reported TIR for patients enrolled in our service during the study period (2009-2011). Results: At the beginning of the study, 1400 patients were enrolled in the program. After 2 years, the number has increased to by 66% to 2325. The average TIR for patients in the program as of October 2011 was 76.3% (overall), 77.8% (IVRS), 76.8% (email), and 73.3% (live). The patient satisfaction survey demonstrated that 94% patients prefer VKA anticoagulation monitoring through TOH service compared to their previous experience. 84% patients either satisfied or very satisfied with VKA anticoagulation care through TOH service (compared to 53% satisfaction with anticoagulant care prior to enrolling in our program). Conclusions: The TOH model of anticoagulation management service results in excellent VKA monitoring (high TIR) for a large number of patients across a wide geographical area, as well as a high level of patient satisfaction. This service allows for the safe and efficient management of VKAs in patients in whom VKA therapy is indicated. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Airee ◽  
Alexander B Guirguis ◽  
Rima A Mohammad

Background: In 2008, the Joint Commission released an updated National Patient Safety Goals document that requires institutions to implement practices that reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with use of anticoagulation therapy. One of the expectations associated with this goal was that each organization would establish an anticoagulant management program. To our knowledge, few data exist to describe the implementation and assessment of anticoagulation programs in smaller, nonteaching community hospitals using decentralized pharmacists in an integrated practice model. Objective: To compare the performance of a protocol-driven anticoagulation management service led by decentralized pharmacists in a nonteaching community hospital with that of usual medical care provided by hospitalist physicians before this program was implemented. Based on these results, as well as a pharmacist satisfaction survey, evaluate the service and identify barriers to expansion. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing 50 consecutive patients who were starting warfarin for the first time beginning in November 2003 with 50 patients managed by hospitalist physicians prior to November 2002 (the time of program implementation). Results: There were no significant differences between groups with regard to time in therapeutic range once therapeutic, length of stay, international normalized ratios (INRs) greater than 3.5, or INRs less than 2. Patients in the pharmacy management group had significantly fewer drug interactions with antimicrobials than did the usual medical care group. Although time to therapeutic range was longer in the pharmacy protocol group, there were fewer patients with INRs greater than 3.5, although this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The efficacy of the pharmacist-led anticoagulation management service was no different from that of usual medical care. Patient safety appeared improved, in part due to more careful initial dose selection based on patient-specific factors. Although this program was accepted by pharmacists, time limitations were perceived to be a major barrier to quality care and expansion of the service.


2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 1164-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon C. Schommer ◽  
David A. Mott ◽  
Philip J. Schneider ◽  
Karen R. Knoell

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 777-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula J Biscup-Horn ◽  
Michael B Streiff ◽  
Timothy R Ulbrich ◽  
Todd W Nesbit ◽  
Kenneth M Shermock

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