Purpose
The goal of the Anticoagulation Management Service (AMS) is to provide a focused, coordinated approach to managing anticoagulation therapy to improve patient outcomes.
Responsibilities of the AMS pharmacists are:
- To improve the efficacy and safety of warfarin therapy.
- To help determine the appropriateness of anticoagulation therapy.
- To manage the dosing and monitoring of warfarin anticoagulation.
- To provide systematic monitoring of patients receiving warfarin therapy.
- To provide comprehensive and ongoing anticoagulation education for patients and caregivers.
- To communicate anticoagulation-related information to the patient's primary care provider.
Background
Our outpatient clinic opened the doors in September of 1999 with 35 patients. Our operations have grown, and we now service over 1,500 patients. We are the Group Health preferred provider for anticoagulation in the Yakima Valley, and we accept all major insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid.
Providers
Our clinic is staffed by pharmacists with advanced clinical training and specialty certification in anticoagulation management.
Advantages
- Appointments take approximately 15 minutes.
- A fingerstick INR with accurate results is available within 2 minutes. This eliminates trips to the laboratory and waiting by the telephone for results.
- The warfarin dose is adjusted at the time of the visit and detailed dosing instructions are given both verbally and in written form.
- The referring physician is updated regarding the patient care plan at the end of each visit.
- Personalized warfarin education is provided at the first visit and as needed.
- The main hospital campus offers free parking and easy access to the clinic, located on the first floor.
- Flexible scheduling is available with the following hours of operation:
- 7:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Saturday and Sunday: closed.
- Pharmacists are available after hours and on weekends to answer questions or concerns. Patients may call the clinic phone number, 509.573.3886, and leave their name, telephone number and a brief message, and someone will return their call as soon as possible.
Referral process
A referral by the cardiologist or primary care physician is required. If referral is appropriate, a referral form needs to be filled out and signed before patients are contacted for appointment scheduling.