New Coagulation Analyzer Helps Regulate Medication Accuracy
- November 15, 2012
Brookings Health System in Brookings, SD recently added a new blood coagulation analyzer to its laboratory, making it easier to monitor patients who stay at Brookings Health System’s hospital and are prescribed the anticoagulant Heparin or a Heparin-like medication.
“The new analyzer replaces the previous testing we used to perform,” said Laboratory Director Debra Thomas. “The new technology and testing allows us to more accurately test a patient’s Heparin anti-Xa level, or how well the blood does or does not coagulate, allowing our health care providers to closely adjust the needed Heparin dosage to the patient’s specific needs.”
Heparin is often given to patients with heart problems or who experience blood clots. Health care providers may also administer Heparin before surgery to prevent blood clots. By testing a patient’s Heparin anti-Xa level in the laboratory before and after the medication is administered, health care providers are able to regulate medication to the correct levels for a patient.
Brookings Health System’s laboratory, recently remodeled in 2011, provides the latest technology and tests for accurate and efficient lab results. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For more information on Brookings Health System’s lab, please call (605) 696-7704
About Brookings Health System
Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed Brookview Manor nursing home, and Brookhaven Estates apartments. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock medical-nursing care for patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.