Patient Welcome Letter

Welcome to the Scott and White Anticoagulation Clinic!

Your physician referred you to the Anticoagulation Clinic so that we may carefully monitor your Coumadin (warfarin) therapy.

To safely monitor your therapy, you must have your prothrombin time/INR (PT/INR) lab test checked regularly. The frequency of this lab test depends on your response to Coumadin. It can vary from once every few days to once every four weeks.

We require that you have an office visit with us at least every three months.These visits are necessary as part of your anticoagulation therapy, so we may provide comprehensive care and monitoring of your Coumadin. You may require more frequent office visits if we feel it is necessary. When you have an office visit scheduled, please go to the lab at 1D one hour prior to your scheduled appointment. If you do labs via fingerstick, you will report to desk 1A a couple minutes prior to your appointment.

When you do not have an office visit scheduled with us, your lab test will be arranged at a lab facility near you. Report to the lab, if possible, before 12:00 p.m. so we can receive results the same day. You do not need to fast for this lab test. We will contact you by phone or postcard with your results. If you do not receive a call the day of your lab test, continue taking the same dose of Coumadin. If you do not receive a call or postcard within four days of your lab test, please call us during regular business hours. For those who do labs via fingerstick, you will see us in the clinic each time and we will give you your results in person.

Please notify us at least 24 hours in advance if you wish to reschedule a lab or office appointment.

As a patient in the Anticoagulation Clinic, it is your responsibility to notify us when you:

• Start, stop or change the way you take your prescription or over-the-counter medications, including herbal products and vitamins
• Are told to take your Coumadin differently than instructed by the Anticoagulation Clinic
• Receive a different strength Coumadin tablet or different appearing tablet
• Become ill, experience a change in your health status, or are admitted to the hospital
• Are scheduled for medical or dental procedures
• Change your eating habits or your alcohol intake>

While many patients are placed on Coumadin for life-long therapy, many patients only take Coumadin for a few months. Therefore, it is important that you see your physician regularly to determine if you still need Coumadin and make sure the Coumadin is not causing any problems. Your physician decides how long you need to continue taking Coumadin. If you are not seeing a physician regularly (at least once every six to 12 months), our clinic may not be able to continue managing your Coumadin therapy.

You can contact the Anticoagulation Clinic by calling 254-724-7123 or 800-792-3710, extension 7123, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Please leave a message if we are unable to take your call. All messages left before 4:30 p.m. will be returned the same day; all messages left after 4:30 p.m. will be returned the next business day. If you have questions or concerns that cannot wait until regular business hours, call 254-724-7037 or 800-724-7037 to speak with a nurse. Please report to the nearest emergency department if you are having symptoms of clotting or uncontrolled bleeding. Please contact your primary care physician when you are concerned about other issues related to your health.

We look forward to monitoring your Coumadin therapy.

Sincerely,
The Anticoagulation Clinic

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