If you are taking warfarin (Coumadin®) to prevent and treat blood clots, be aware that many factors, including taking other medications, diet and alcohol use, can affect your warfarin therapy.
That’s why patients taking warfarin must be monitored periodically with blood testing. Unlike most medications that are administered as a fixed dose, warfarin dosing is adjusted according to blood test results; therefore, the dose usually changes over time.
Anticoagulation Clinics offer the monitoring you need to make sure you are being treated effectively and safely. The clinics are offered in San Francisco and throughout the South Bay and East Bay.
Anticoagulation Clinics are staffed by registered nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and a medical director. Unlike laboratory visits, the clinic providers perform finger-stick blood tests to identify the level of warfarin in your body (the result is available in less than one minute), which is used to determine the appropriate warfarin dose for you.
Clinic staff also look for any changes in your medications and diet, as well as any side effects related to warfarin therapy.
To become a part of an Anticoagulation Clinic, your doctor must send a referral to the clinic. Some locations have a waiting list, but you will be contacted as soon as an appointment is available. Initial visits usually last for 30 minutes and subsequent visits are approximately 10 minutes.
