Anticoagulation Clinic Implements Drive-Through Services in Response to COVID-19

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ACCP member Erin Carson, Pharm.D., BCPS, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois – Chicago, helps staff SwedishAmerican Hospital’s interdisciplinary Anticoagulation Clinic in Rockford, Illinois. The clinic employs five full-time clinical pharmacists and two registered pharmacy technicians who manage about 1200 patients in collaboration with physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and laboratory personnel. Like many anticoagulation clinics across the U.S., the clinic responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by rescheduling visits for stable patients and converting patients from warfarin to direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), when possible. However, many patients could not be rescheduled or converted to a DOAC. To maximize patient safety, on March 27 the clinic converted all face-to-face appointments to curbside visits. Using this approach, the clinical pharmacists carry out point of care INR testing on patients while they remain safely in their vehicles. Within the first week, the team performed 180 curbside INR tests. Patient reaction has been overwhelmingly positive and the clinic has observed that its “no-show” rate has declined. “We have gotten some of our ‘overdue INR patients’ scheduled for drive-through visits, as well,” noted Dr. Carson. “Patients really appreciate this. We anticipate many more visits as we continue to work hard to keep our patients safe!"