Anticoagulation Clinic Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question The Anticoagulation Clinic at National Jewish Health follows patients who are taking anticoagulant medicines (blood thinners), which help prevent blood clots. If you are taking an anticoagulant, the amount of medicine in your blood should be monitored closely to assure you are getting enough medicine to prevent blood clots, yet not too much to cause bleeding. Regular visits to the Anticoagulation Clinic are important to ensure you are on the right medication and to monitor your blood levels closely (when needed). The Anticoagulation Team includes a doctor, nurse, pharmacist and lab members. What to Expect in the Anticoagulation Clinic The nurse in the Anticoagulation Clinic will meet with you each visit. The nurse will talk with you about how to care for yourself when you are taking anticoagulant medicine. Important points include: Special techniques for taking the medicine Potential diet and medicine interactions Signs and symptoms of increased bleeding Actions to take with increased bleeding The nurse will draw blood with a fingerstick to test your INR (International Normalized Ratio) level during the visit. The INR is a standard measure of the clotting process time. In most situations, the INR level should fall in a target range. If the INR is too low there is increased risk of blood clot formation. If the INR is too high there is increased risk of bleeding. The Anticoagulation Team will also track your INR results over multiple visits to follow trends in your results. The Anticoagulation Team will look at all this information to determine the dose of medicine you will take. You will be seen in Anticoagulation Clinic at least every three to four weeks iniitially when using warafarin. You may be seen more or less frequently depending on the anticoagulant medication that your doctor has prescribed. We prescribe and manage the traditional vitamin K antagonists along with all of the new novel oral anticoagulants, some of which require little to no monitoring. What To Do if You Get a Cut or Bruise If you get a cut that is bleeding apply pressure to the cut until the bleeding stops. You may want to have gauze pads available when you apply pressure. This will help the blood clot. If the bleeding does not stop or the cut is large, get medical help right away. This may include going to the emergency room or calling 911. If you have a new bruise, apply a cold pack to the bruise. You may want to have cold packs available also. When To Call Your Health Care Provider The main side effect seen with anticoagulant medicine is bleeding. Bleeding or hemorrhage (bleeding within the body) can occur in any part of the body. If you notice these signs and symptoms call your healthcare provider right away: Dizziness, headache or trouble thinking clearly Nosebleeds Coughing up blood Nausea or vomiting blood or coffee ground looking material Swelling, painful or hot joints Fever Increased bruising or bleeding Blood in the urine Bloody or black, tarry stools Severe menstrual bleeding Feeling very tired or weak Nausea and vomiting for more than 24 hours Bleeding from the gums after brushing teeth Also call if you fall or have an accident, especially if you hit your head, even if you feel fine. If you have questions about how you are feeling or are concerned, please call. You can call the Anticoagulation Nurse at 303.398.1355. In an emergency please call 911. Doctors Christopher K. Dyke, MD, FACC + × Christopher K. Dyke, MD, FACC Christopher K. Dyke, MD, is a cardiologist at National Jewish Health. Dr. Dyke is in the Division of Cardiology and Department of Medicine. Associate Professor Division of Cardiology Department of Medicine View Full Profile Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Clinical Trials New Trial Medication for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses Ranked as one of the top two hospitals in pulmonology every year since U.S. News & World Report included this category in its annual “Best Hospitals” survey Ranked in the top 1 percent of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Among the top 6 percent of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to more than 300 active clinical trials 121-year history of focus on care, research and education serving thousands of patients with lung, heart, immune and related disorders Make an Appointment Lifestyle Tips that Save Lives Debra Kates Shaw asked National Jewish Health cardiologist Andrew Freeman, MD, for a second opinion about her husband’s heart condition. She never imagined that his recommendations would include lifestyle changes instead of prescription medicine. Read More View All Patient Stories × Safely Get the Care You Need We are ready to help you stay healthy with many same-day appointments available and are taking every precaution to ensure your safety. To make an appointment, call 303.398.1355 or schedule online today. COVID-19 Testing and Care Swab (PCR) and Antibody testing appointments can be booked online and are available with results in 24-48 hours. If you are experiencing symptoms, we have same-day appointments in our adult and pediatric COVID-19 treatment clinics in dedicated areas. We also offer care for those wo have had COVID-19 in our Center for Post-COVID-19 Care and Recovery. Learn more about our specialized COVID-19 care. Vaccine Information The vaccine has arrived and we are working through Colorado’s state-guided phases of vaccination. 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Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses Ranked as one of the top two hospitals in pulmonology every year since U.S. News & World Report included this category in its annual “Best Hospitals” survey Ranked in the top 1 percent of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Among the top 6 percent of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to more than 300 active clinical trials 121-year history of focus on care, research and education serving thousands of patients with lung, heart, immune and related disorders Make an Appointment
Lifestyle Tips that Save Lives Debra Kates Shaw asked National Jewish Health cardiologist Andrew Freeman, MD, for a second opinion about her husband’s heart condition. She never imagined that his recommendations would include lifestyle changes instead of prescription medicine. Read More View All Patient Stories