Submitted by Summit Pacific Medical Center
Summit Pacific Medical Center is offering patients a quick, easily accessible way to manage their risk of blood clots. The service is available by appointment to patients of Summit Pacific Medical Center’s providers, which encompasses patients of the medical center, Elma Family Medicine, Mark Reed Healthcare Clinic and Summit Pacific Healthcare Clinic.
Many people suffer from a heightened risk of blood clotting. There are several conditions that increase risk such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, artificial heart valves, atrial fibrillation, irregular heartbeat, history of stroke or heart attack or the presence of one or more additional disorders.
Since many medications, conditions and foods can change how fast or slow an individual’s blood clots, it is important to monitor with frequent blood tests. One of the numerous benefits of the anticoagulation clinic is being able to get face to face with the patients to explain their dosages and why the dosage has changed. SPMC’s anticoagulation nurse Sokny Prom, RN said “When we get face to face there is less confusion for the patients, they’re more comfortable with their dose changing and so are we.”
Prior to leaving the office, the patient is provided with written instructions about what was discussed during the visit, and when to return for future testing. If a patient’s blood seems stable they can wait up to 4 weeks to come back for a medication adjustment. If the patient isn’t stable they could visit the clinic every four to seven days.
Patients can expect the initial visit to be around 40 minutes and follow up visits to be 10 to 20 minutes long. During the appointment a bleeding risk assessment is conducted, education is provided, and adjustment of medicine dosing, if necessary, is determined.
The clinic offers a finger stick method as well as blood draws for the testing. “Most people want the finger stick method because it is so fast but some patients prefer to have their blood drawn at our lab and they are welcome to do that.” She also said, “If the test comes back too high I will draw their blood and send it to the lab for further testing.”
As of right now the clinic manages two anticoagulant medications and is working with representatives of other companies to increase their reach of managed medications. They also hope to open the clinic to patients outside of the medical center in the future.
Summit Pacific Healthcare Clinic, Mark Reed Healthcare Clinic and Elma Family Medicine are all accepting new patients, including patients insured by Medicare. Call 360-346-2222 to schedule an appointment at the clinic of your choice.
