Anticoagulation in Albert Lea, Minnesota

Anticoagulation services are available when your clinician has prescribed an anticoagulation medicine (blood thinner) to reduce your chance of developing blood clots. Anticoagulation services in Albert Lea are provided by clinicians with advanced anticoagulation training. They work with your primary care provider and other specialists to help you manage your anticoagulation therapy.

Services include:

• Point-of-care testing, also known as finger-stick testing, performed by Pathology
• Anticoagulation medication adjustment
• Close supervision of treatment to ensure effectiveness and monitor side effects
• Screening and education about food and drug interactions
• Bridging therapy in the event of surgery or other procedures

All services are provided virtually, with the exception of point-of-care testing. This can be performed at any of our laboratory locations.

Patients who regularly take a blood-thinning medication, like warfarin, have various options for managing long-term care and testing their international normalized ratio (INR) levels. In addition to lab testing, home INR testing is a convenient and accurate method of INR-monitoring that allows individuals to test on their own schedules from the comfort of home. Patients interested in this program are encouraged to ask their providers for more information.

Warfarin, also known as Coumadin, is the most common medication used to prevent blood clots and has many uses. It may be given to patients before a surgery, to help patients manage heart disease, or to help those with a history of blood clots. Despite its usefulness, warfarin may affect people differently, and patients should be monitored closely to ensure safety of the dose. Regular anticoagulation checkups help you better monitor your medicine and get better results because you get immediate feedback and education about ways to avoid reactions.

Anticoagulation services are covered by most private insurance carriers and through Medicare. Check with your insurance carrier for coverage limits or copayments. Medicare will generally pay for anticoagulation services without requiring a copayment.