Coumadin Clinic
Open to all patients with a referral from your physician. Norton King's Daughters' Health offers the Coumadin Clinic to make it easier for patients to monitor their Coumadin levels. Complete contact information is available below. If you have questions, please call 812.801.0853.
Reviewed 12/6/2022
Blood clots: True or false?
If you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop bleeding. But blood clots can also form abnormally. They can develop in—or travel to—blood vessels in your brain, heart, lungs, limbs and kidneys and cause serious problems. Are you at risk? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
True or false: Dehydration, pregnancy and prolonged bed rest are all risk factors for blood clots.
True. And so is smoking, which damages the lining of blood vessels and can cause clots to form. Hormone replacement therapy also raises risk, as do long periods of sitting, especially with your legs crossed.
True or false: Young, active people don't need to worry about blood clots.
False. Almost anyone can get deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious and underdiagnosed condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in the veins, often in the lower leg, thigh or pelvis. If the clot travels to the lungs, it can block blood flow and be life-threatening.
True or false: Swelling and tenderness are signs of DVT.
True. Swelling, tenderness and pain, especially in the leg, are red flags of this serious condition. So is redness of the skin. If you have any of these symptoms. See your doctor as soon as possible.
True or false: A tendency toward excessive blood clotting can be inherited.
True. Genetic defects can cause abnormal clotting. You're more likely to have a genetic defect if your family members had dangerous blood clots or you've had repeated blood clots before age 40.
True or false: Women are at greater risk for DVT.
False. While it's true that women have a greater risk for this type of blood clot when pregnant or using birth control pills, overall, men are more likely to develop DVT.
Could tired, achy legs be a warning sign of other problems that affect your blood vessels? Find out in our Health Information Library.
Visit the vascular health topic center
Sources: American Heart Association; American Society of Hematology; National Institutes of Health
The purpose of the Coumadin Clinic is to effectively monitor your Coumadin (warfarin) therapy. Coumadin is a blood thinner. If your levels are too high, you may bleed too easily or it might be difficult to stop bleeding should you cut or scratch yourself. If your levels are too low, you may run a higher risk of developing blood clots.
After being referred by your physician, you will have an individual, one-on-one meeting with a clinical pharmacist from Norton King's Daughters' Health, rather than meeting with someone from your doctor's office. The Coumadin Care Clinic offers a simple finger stick rather than drawing blood from your arm. A machine resembling a glucometer will then test your blood. Results are available within minutes and sent directly to your physician. If a dosage change is required, the pharmacist will make the change before you leave the Care Clinic office. A reminder sheet is sent home with you that includes your current dose of Coumadin and your next appointment date and time.
Referrals
You can be referred by any physician. Contact your physician's office and ask if you may have your Coumadin (warfarin) therapy monitored by the Coumadin (anticoagulation) Clinic at Norton KDH. Your physician will need to fill out a referral form and fax it to our clinic office. After the referral is received, a member of our clinic staff will contact you and make a first appointment.