Anticoagulation Clinic

The Anticoagulation Clinic at Howard County General Hospital is the only clinic of its kind in Howard County. It provides a vital service to patients who take blood-thinning medication to prevent strokes and heart attacks.  Patients will be seen, by appointment only, at the Anticoagulation Clinic upon referral from their physician.

What is anticoagulant medication?

Anticoagulant drugs, such as Coumadin® (warfarin) help to prevent clots from forming in the blood. They are prescribed for patients who are at risk of forming blood clots, including anyone who has atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a pulmonary embolism or is at risk of a heart attack recurrence.

Coumadin® (warfarin) reduces the formation of clots by blocking the formation of vitamin-K-dependent clotting factors. A variety of things can affect a patient's Coumadin® (warfarin) dose including: diet and other medication (prescriptions, over-the-counter medication and herbal products). The goal of care includes the prevention of thromboembolic disease such as a stroke as well as complications such as bleeding.

What the Anticoagulation Clinic can do for you

A medical director oversees pharmacists who consult with patients about achieving prescribed levels of anticoagulation (measured by using a blood test called an “INR”), drug interactions, diet, signs and symptoms of toxicity and what to do about a missed dose. Instead of drawing blood from an arm vein, we use a simple finger stick to obtain a drop of blood for testing.

For more information about the Anticoagulation Unit, please call 443-718-3155 or fax 443-718-3156.