Anti-Coagulation Monitoring Service

Aim

To ensure the provision of warfarin monitoring service in primary care is safe and effective.

Objectives

The objectives are as follows:

To provide standardised and clinically effective management to patients receiving warfarin therapy whilst minimising the associated risks.
To identify patients receiving warfarin and offer transfer of care from hospital to primary care clinics for appropriate patients.
To initiate warfarin therapy for suitable patients.
To achieve optimum management of INR control.
To educate patients in understanding their treatment, in terms of their condition requiring warfarin therapy, target range for INR, the effects of over and under- coagulation, diet, lifestyle and drug interactions.
To appropriately manage patients whose INR exceed their target range or who are under coagulated.
To maintain a register of all patients receiving VKA anticoagulant therapy and have a treatment plan for each patient that is reviewed on a regular basis.
To review the need for continuation of therapy at each visit.
To identify and appropriately manage patients with specific needs i.e. poor compliance, unstable INR control or frequent non-attendees.
To optimise care to patients receiving warfarin therapy in terms of accessibility, continuity and waiting times.
To ensure complete and accurate documentation of the clinic process.

Resources

Anti-coagulation Service Specification 2020.2021 Final

Sheffield Anticoagulation Monitoring Service SOP – Standard Operating Procedure For the provision of a Level 3, 4 and 5 Anticoagulation Service