New Testing for Patients on Coumadin Available at Arlington Medical Center

Arlington Medical Center in Arlington, SD, recently added new testing equipment to check the clotting tendency of blood for patients who take the medication Coumadin.

“For patients on Coumadin therapy, there is always a risk their blood will become too thin, which is why health care professionals want them to check their blood regularly,” said Certified Nurse Practitioner Tonya Froehlich. “The new testing equipment allows us to quickly assess a patient’s blood clotting tendency without waiting for results from a lab. By knowing those levels at the time of care, we can immediately adjust dosages as needed for a patient, increasing overall patient safety.”

Coumadin, also referred to generically as warfarin, is a blood thinner that thins a patient’s blood to prevent blood clots from forming. The medication is used to treat several different medical conditions, including blood clots deep in the vein, blood clots in the lungs, and blood clots formed due to a chronic irregular heart rhythm.

To test a patient’s blood clotting tendency, health care providers simply prick a patient’s finger to draw a small blood sample. The sample is run through the testing equipment which provides results within minutes.

Patients who wish to have Arlington Medical Center check their Coumadin levels and have an order from their doctor can make an appointment by calling (605) 983-3283.

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.