Cardiologist v.s. anticoagulation clinic

[aciofalo]

Does anyone have recommendations on a cardiologist in the new jersey pa or ny area or florida...

I am willing to travel I am just not pleased with my cardiac team

the "coumadin specialist" nurse continues to insist coumadin thins my blood
she never questions my diet and has no idea I am a vegetarian..which obviously will make my dose of coumadin higher than others

also my current cardiologist only has 1 year of experience and refused to put me on medication post surgery to combat pericarditis which I had pre surgery and knew would return

also wondering how many people report their inr level to their cardiologist or use a anticoagulation clinic to control their dose of coumadin

my insurance company is really making obtaining a home test kit a production hopefully should be another month or two til i receive it

 

[Ross]

All though I home test, I call my INR into QAS's PPM service and if it's out of range, they and I both call my cardiologist. Anymore, I skip calling mine in and just deal with my cardio directly, but for the sake of the poll, I voted both, which many people still do.

 

[Guest]

I test at home, call my results into the coumadin clinic, my cardio authorizes my meds and test supplies.

 

[Karlynn]

I home test and don't call my cardio unless there is a problem I don't know how to handle myself. It's been 4 years since I've called in an INR. The funny thing is that one time I got a call from my cardio's new PA saying - "I was just looking at your records and see that the last INR test you had was here at the office 5 months ago. You need to get in and get tested ASAP!"

 

[lance]

Home test using

Home test using

an XS--love it--and report the results to a clinic. The same clinic where I learned how to use the "S" and "XS".

 

[Bina]

I home test and self dose.....my GP is always available for help and/or discussion,
but my INR has been super stable. Every couple of months I call my GP with the INR readings.

 

[dick0236]

How about a "none of the above" choice. My INR is routinely managed by me and my PCP (family doc) at his office.

I did try a "coag clinic" (too inconvenient) and home testing (too costly) a few years ago. To the best of my knowledge, I have never had a cardiologist directly monitor my INR.

 

[JimL]

You can always check out www.acforum.org for anticoagulation clinics in your area. It doesn't list all the clinics, but it's a start.

 

[Blanche]

Our Internist is our "go to" person

Our Internist is our "go to" person

My husband and I both home test. He has been home testing since 2001 and I have been home testing since 2005. We both manage our own anticoagulation dosing.

When there are problems or concerns, like an INR of 9.0 plus, we contact our Internist. Our Internist has his own anticoagulation clinic in his office. The patients have named it the "Coumadin Club."

Our Cardiologist, who has about 16 partners also has a Coumadin Clinic in his office. With that many partners and that many patients, I would suspect that the Cardio's Clinic has an extensive stream of revenue.

Regards,
Blanche

 

[Cris N]

I home test through Phillips (Raytel) - only way my insurance covers it (at 100% so I can't complain). My results go to my PCP. I tell him what I need and he writes the prescriptions.