Outpatient Anticoagulation Clinic

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants are high-risk medications that can cause severe bleeding when not administered or monitored correctly. Conversely, patients prescribed anticoagulants who are underdosed can suffer thromboembolic complications. Complex dosing requirements, insufficient monitoring, and inconsistent patient compliance can contribute to adverse drug events or even death.

The UConn Health Anticoagulation Clinic was established to improve safety and efficacy outcomes by preventing new or recurrent thromboembolic events and avoiding adverse drug events for patients prescribed anticoagulants in a cost-effective manner while allowing providers more availability of clinic time for direct patient care.

The clinic staff provides ongoing management, including dosing, monitoring, education, prescription needs, and support for all UConn Health patients prescribed anticoagulants.

The clinic is staffed by pharmacists with specialized training in anticoagulation management who work under a collaborative practice agreement with the referring UConn Health physicians (MD or DO), physician’s assistants (PA), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).

Dr. Heiko Schmitt (cardiologist) and Dr. Ritika Vankina (hematologist) provide clinical oversight to ensure evidence-based practice guidelines are being followed by clinic staff.

Through a comprehensive process that includes on-site laboratory testing, the clinic monitors the patient's therapy and adjusts dosages according to protocol. At each visit, the clinic staff monitors patients for hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications and provides patient education regarding the safe use of anticoagulation therapy.

Benefits to Patients

Comprehensive, ongoing patient education and communication
Monitoring of necessary blood tests
Consistent and prompt INR monitoring
Prompt dosage adjustments
Intervention for drug interactions

Patients may be followed up on an electronically submitted referral from an attending physician.

Anticoagulation Referral Acceptance Requirements

Patients may be referred to the Anticoagulation Clinic if they have an established and ongoing relationship with outpatient UConn attending physician (MD or DO), physician’s assistants (PA), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN).
The UConn attending provider is willing to be in a collaborative practice agreement with Anticoagulation Clinic pharmacist for the patient.
Patients must be willing to come to the Anticoagulation Clinic regularly and meet with their referring provider at least once a year.
Please enter an order for “Ambulatory Referral to Anticoagulation Warfarin Monitoring” or “Ambulatory Referral to Anticoagulation Non-Warfarin Monitoring” and associated CPA signature page in Epic, sending INR reminders to UMSI Anticoagulation support staff.
The anticoagulation clinic staff will contact the patient within 2 business days after both the referral and co-signed collaborative practice agreement have been sent by the appropriate referring provider and received by Anticoagulation clinic staff.
Please call the Anticoagulation Clinic at 860-679-3470 to ensure the proper documentation is in place.
The anticoagulation clinic staff will reach out to providers yearly to renew both the referral and collaborative practice agreement as required under the collaborative practice agreement.