Specialty Clinic Opening

(L-R) Janet Carver, RN, Shawn Whitaker, Director of Nursing, Keith Lovering, IT Director, and Cindy Caldwell, RN, FNP-C

Miller County Hospital will soon be bringing another new service to residents of Colquitt and the surrounding areas. It's a rather simple service, but one CEO, Tom Meadows, felt could bring much convenience to many of the local citizens. This service would involve anyone that is taking the drug, Coumadin (also known as Warfarin). Coumadin is an anticoagulant. "Anti" means against, and "coagulant" refers to blood clotting. An anticoagulant helps reduce clots from forming in the blood.

Doctors want patients to take Coumadin because their blood makes clots that their body does not need. These clots can cause serious medical problems. Coumadin is used to prevent clots in the heart, lungs, legs, or brain. It is used to treat blood clots associated with a condition of the heart known as atrial fibrillation. People with heart-valve replacements are placed on Coumadin, along with heart attack or stroke victims. The doctor determines how much Coumadin a patient needs by giving blood tests. The blood test is called prothrombin time, or protime (PT) for short and is reported as International Normalized Ratio (INR). Anyone taking Coumadin knows that what usually occurs is you are sent to your local hospital lab (or an out-of-town lab); blood is drawn from your arm. Then you are asked to return home to sit by the phone to wait for a call from your doctor's officeto findout whether or not to adjust your current dosage of Coumadin. Too often, however, this return call does not occur on the same day as the lab work. This leads to haphazard management in the prevention of blood clots.

To provide safe, effective care for patients receiving Coumadin, Miller County Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of its very own, "Anticoagulant Clinic." This clinic will be located directly across from the main entrance of the hospital at 206 North Cuthbert Street. Janet Carver, a registered nurse, will be managing this clinic. One of the first differences you will notice when you go to this clinic for management of your Coumadin is there will not be the need to draw a blood specimen from your arm.

Your finger will be pricked by a small lancet, much like a diabetic patient does a daily finger stick to check his blood glucose. The other main difference you will appreciate is that before leaving the clinic you will know your lab results and whether or not to make adjustments in the amount of Coumadin you are taking. Cindy Coldwell, RN,FNP-C, will oversee the management of patients seeking treatment at the clinic. Less than three months ago, Cindy proposed the idea of this type service to administration and her peers. She knew from her own patients that a clinic such as this would be very popular because of it being located so close to home.

If you, or anyone you know are taking the drug Coumadin (Warfarin), please call Janet Carver, RN, at 758-5957 for more details. Hours of operation are 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.