Helping manage anticoagulation patients for over 21 years

CAT Clinic improves patient satisfaction

5/1/2008 - The Community Anticoagulation Therapy (CAT) Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, began working with patients in February 2006 as a result of a $600,000 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

After searching unsuccessfully for a software program that fit the CAT Clinic’s requirements, the group hired Healthcare System Solutions to create a custom product [INR Pro] based on the requirements identified through the lean Six Sigma analysis.

As the clinic continues to manage each patient’s care more closely, another measure improves: the average CAT score, which measures compliance regarding changes in medications, diet, alcohol use, missed or extra warfarin doses, as well as other medications added or discontinued.

Data for each patient are maintained with statistical process control charts to help make decisions regarding warfarin dosage and prevent unnecessary changes. The greater the time in range and the tighter the range that is maintained, the better for the patient.

Data also show that patients participating in the CAT Clinic:

  • Are less likely to miss a warfarin dose
  • Require fewer dose changes
  • Understand the importance of contacting the clinic with health-related questions
  • Experience fewer bleeding and clotting events
  • Are less likely to require hospitalization or visit the emergency room because of their anticoagulation medication

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INR Pro - patient anticoagulation tracking systemIf you would like to take advantage of these features with INR Pro, try our demo, or contact us for more information.