Trinity Hospital Twin City Opens Coumadin Clinic

Photo Information: Kim Dennis, RN, Clinic Coordinator, (r) performs a simple fingerstick test with a patient at Trinity Hospital Twin City’s new Coumadin Clinic.

Trinity Hospital Twin City Opens Coumadin Clinic

              Thanks to the recent opening of a Coumadin Clinic at Trinity Hospital Twin City, managing health is becoming easier for area residents who take Coumadin, a blood-thinning drug.  Located on the first floor of the hospital, the clinic is designed to provide Coumadin patients with fast, accurate INR blood test results by testing a drop of blood obtained through a fingerstick rather than through a traditional blood draw from a vein. This makes the process of monitoring Coumadin dosages quicker and less painful.

                “We are able to get blood test results within minutes,” explained Kim Dennis, RN, hospital clinic coordinator. “During an appointment of thirty minutes or less, our patients can get their blood tested, receive any needed adjustments to their Coumadin dosage and obtain any education they need about how to make good health choices while taking Coumadin. We also make sure each patient knows the time of their next scheduled appointment before leaving, and we notify the patient’s physician after each visit.”

                Dennis works with hospital Director of Pharmacy Services, Eric Durbin, RPh, to make sure each Coumadin Clinic patient receives the help they need. “If any dosing adjustments are needed, those adjustments are made before the patient leaves,” he shared. “We provide patients with a sheet that lists exactly how many pills a day to take until they return for the next blood test. We make the process as user-friendly as possible.”

                Clinic patients also receive educational materials about what can and cannot be safely done while taking Coumadin such as what foods to avoid and what medications to avoid in order to prevent a drug interaction.  Coumadin is often prescribed by physicians for the treatment of blood clots, irregular heartbeat, congestive heart failure, stroke, and other health problems that affect blood circulation.

                The Trinity Hospital Twin City Coumadin Clinic is open on Mondays and Thursdays, and clinic services are covered by most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Dennis at (740) 922-7450, ext. 2252.