WILMINGTON — CMH Regional Health System announced this week the opening of an outpatient anticoagulation clinic to provide personalized medication management assistance to those patients on anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin).
These medications are vital in preventing unwanted and dangerous blood clots for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation, heart valve replacement, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, cancer, knee or hip replacement, and a number of other conditions.
These medications do, however, require close monitoring, as common foods, supplements, and daily behaviors can have a significant impact on their safety and effectiveness.
“This clinic has been a dream of ours for some time – anticoagulants are difficult to manage, but so critically necessary for many patients,” said Teresa LeMaster, Director of the Pharmacy at CMH. “This clinic enables us to provide personalized medication management assistance to patients and physicians. Our pharmacists will be working one-on-one with patients to ensure that their medication dosages remain safe and effective long-term.”
CMH CEO Lance Beus emphasized the importance of the clinic to patients and physicians,
“The mission of this clinic is simple – to ensure that patients are able to safely and effectively manage their anticoagulant medications to prevent dangerous blood clots,” said Beus. “We are committed to being a resource for physicians throughout the region, who need more outpatient support in providing ongoing medication management that fully incorporates diet, lifestyle, and behavior.
“We are excited to launch this clinic and know it will be a crucial resource for patients in our region.”
Patients referred to the CMH Outpatient Anticoagulation Clinic will benefit from one-on-one, routine counseling with a pharmacist who will:
• Create a medication management plan customized for the patient’s lifestyle
• Work closely with the referring physician on medication dosing changes or recommendations
• Conduct real-time blood tests via finger sticks to determine a patient’s INR (an international measurement which indicates how long it takes blood to form a clot) at each visit
• Regularly review medication changes, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes to ensure the continued safety and effectiveness of the patient’s medication management plan
Patients interested in learning more about how to manage their anticoagulant medications should speak first with their primary care provider or prescribing specialist.
All patients of the outpatient coagulation clinic will need a physician referral. To learn more about the clinic, contact the clinic coordinator, Leslie Moke, PharmD, at 937-283-2299.
About CMH Regional Health System
Established in 1951, CMH Regional Health System has been providing quality healthcare to area residents for over 60 years. CMH Regional Health System’s Clinton Memorial Hospital is a 165-bed hospital located centrally in Wilmington, Ohio. Clinton Memorial Hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient specialized services, including emergency services, medical and radiation oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics, surgery, diagnostic and interventional radiology and more.
CMH Regional Health System’s network of outpatient physician practices and services—including primary care, internal medicine, neurology, general surgery, and gastroenterology— extends through Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties.
