Anticoagulation therapy

If you’ve been prescribed the anticoagulant warfarin, also called Coumadin or Jantoven, routine monitoring is critical. Our specialized Anticoagulation Clinics located conveniently throughout the Advocate Health Care system can help you manage your prescription. 

A better model for managing anticoagulation therapy 

Advocate Health Care operates Anticoagulation Clinics in 25 primary care and cardiology offices and 6 hospitals in Illinois. These clinics are more effective at helping patients keep their anticoagulant levels steady, compared with standard care. 

Our Anticoagulation Clinics provide:

• Rapid testing: We use an in-office international normalized ratio (INR) test, which measures how fast your blood clots. The results take less than a minute and allow us to adjust your medication without delay.
• Expert advice: We have a team of pharmacists and nurses who are trained in warfarin therapy. They provide education and guidance and are accessible for any questions or concerns that may arise during your care.
• Follow-up: If patients stop taking their warfarin, their risk of stroke can increase. Our tracking system ensures that we properly monitor every patient. This is especially important for new warfarin patients who may find managing their prescription challenging. 
• Home monitoring: INR meters are available for home use, though insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary. If you are interested in self-testing, discuss your options with your provider. Home health patients under the care of an Advocate Medical Group provider may receive INR testing at home. Their home care nurse calls the results into our Anticoagulation Clinic where an experienced nurse provides warfarin dosing advice. 

Who needs anticoagulation therapy

Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are used to prevent blood clots. Normally, blood clots stop bleeding, like when you cut yourself. But if they form inside your blood vessels, they can cause serious problems such as:

• Heart attack
• Stroke or transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke)
• Deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot that forms in a vein deep inside your body)
• Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel in the lung)

Your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant if you have a history of any of these problems or are at high risk for blood clots. 

Blood thinners are also prescribed for patients with atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder) or who have had treatment for structural heart disease, including heart valve replacement. 

What to expect at the Anticoagulation Clinic

Our goal is to help you keep your INR levels within the normal range. To test your INR, we perform a fingerstick to get a drop of blood from your finger and have the result in under a minute. 

If your INR levels are too high, you may be at risk for bruising or bleeding. If your INR is too low, you may be at risk for blood clots. In either case, we’ll adjust your medications to bring it back into the appropriate range.

We’ll also review your:

• Diet: Patients taking warfarin need to limit foods that contain vitamin K, such as green leafy vegetables. 
• Medications: Pain, cold and stomach medicines, antibiotics and some vitamins and herbal products may interact with blood thinners. 
• Side effects: Bleeding and bruising are the most common side effects.

Your first visit will take about 30 to 45 minutes while we take your history and talk about your therapy. After that, visits should only take about 15 minutes. Our team of specialists is committed to giving you a streamlined experience at every appointment.

How to access our Anticoagulation Clinics 

You’ll need a referral from an Advocate Health Care provider to access our Anticoagulation Clinics. Referring providers can complete a clinic referral form and our staff will take it from there. 

If you and your doctor are considering anticoagulation therapy, we encourage you to enroll in our program. Our model of care will help you become more informed and more active in your health care. And by keeping your warfarin levels in check, you’ll experience better health and a better quality of life.