Program at Loma Linda CA Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Highlights from the 12th National Conference on Anticoagulant Therapy.
Walter Crumpler PharmD CACP presented a poster at the Anticoagulation Forum in Phoenix, AZ on “Bridging the Education Gap of Novel Anticoagulants and the Role of Pharmacists,” based on an identified need to ensure that no matter which blood thinner, new or old, was ordered for a patient, the essential intervention is a structured process to inform a patient on the reason for the medication, an estimate of how long therapy will last, follow-up appointments, and risk of bleeding, to name a few salient points.
Alan Jacobson, MD, who was a co-author, as well as Director, Anticoagulation Services at Loma Linda Veteran Affairs Medical Center in California, said that an informed patient is even more important than which blood thinner is chosen, since
“effective anticoagulation is a combination of good drug and good management.”
Dr Jacobson added that “This is important because these are not ‘prescribe and forget’ drugs.” The education and management burden of the newer anticoagulants is less than with warfarin, but is still significant and important. I would rather have a well educated and well managed patient on the worst molecule (drug make-up) than an under educated and poorly managed patient on the best molecule. His comments underscore the importance of patient information and learning through interaction with a healthcare professional, which means that follow-up is key.
For questions contact Alan Brownstein at 917.209.2000 phone or by email at: abrownstein@stoptheclot.org
