The Anticoagulation Forum conducted a webinar on Wednesday, March 25 entitled Management of Warfarin Patients Who Have Difficulty Getting INR Testing During COVID-19 Pandemic. Click or tap the title to see the recorded presentation, which centers on Warfarin management. Here are a few takeaways from the webinar, please feel free to add your observations below.
- Prolong the intervals between INR assays
- "Telecheck" bleeding history and diet with patients to delay INR assay visits
- Provide point-of-care assays in isolated locations such as drive-throughs
- Perform Medicare-prescribed history and physical assesment in drive-through
- Maintain proper point of care instrument operating conditions, particularly temperature
- Adjust dose on out of range point-of-care results without reflexing to a plasma-based assay
- Use telemedicine to qualify patients for a switch to a DOAC
- When switching anticoagulants, use an appropriate interval without lab monitoring
- Since primaries are slammed, empower NPs and PAs to manage anticoagulation
- Provide accurate information in a time of insecurity, employ shared decision making