New Franciscan St. Anthony Health anti-coagulation clinic offers one-stop care for patients; faster results, treatment

An anti-coagulation clinic recently established at Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point seeks to make life less tricky for coumadin patients, the numbers of whom are on the rise as the aging population increases.

The clinic treats more than 250 patients who use the blood-thinning medication, also known as warfarin, which is prescribed to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger, to assist with irregular heartbeats, to help heart attack victims and people who have prosthetic heart valves.

Sonja Damjanoski-Farias, Franciscan St. Anthony clinical pharmacy manager, heads the three-member staff, which also includes clinical staff pharmacists Maria Pickell and Heather Burns.

Patients, most of whom are aged 65-plus, are seen after doctor referrals.

Pickell noted the number of people living longer these days presents the possibility more might develop heart problems.

"We have seen an increase in coumadin need over the years, with the population age increase. We are seeing more cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)," she added.

Damjanoski-Farias said the clinic also strives to set the record straight concerning coumadin use.

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that people have to change their lives to use coumadin," Damjanoski-Farias said. "We will adjust their coumadin intake to meet their lifestyle. Doctors prescribe the medication and we decide how much patients get and generally see them monthly to make sure all is well.''

The clinic also offers faster test results than conventional testing labs, less bleeding, little or no waiting and immediate pharmaceutical analysis.

"We are much more accommodating here,'' said Damjanoski-Farias, who has been clinical pharmacy manager for three years. "Patients know test results in 20 seconds, instead of waiting one or two days, which usually is the case when they are referred to a lab for testing."

She added a motivation behind the clinic's formation was to reduce the number of admissions of patients who came to the Emergency Department with abnormal blood levels that could have been prevented.

"We do blood tests to assess the International Normalized (blood) Ratio, decide whether patients are doing well and provide counseling for dieting and lifestyle,'' Damjanoski-Farias said.

She added another misconception is that coumadin users often bleed to death if they are cut.

"Patients can bruise easily and bleed a little longer, but it usually is not life-threatening. One of our purposes is to eliminate the bad press coumadin gets," Damjanoski-Farias said.

The clinic, which is located on the first floor of the hospital, 1201 S. Main St., is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (219) 681-6801.