Anticoagulation Therapy

Managing your blood-thinning therapy shouldn't be stressful. At Stony Brook Heart Institute, we're here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Stony Brook Heart Institute's dedicated Anticoagulation Therapy provides expert, proactive management for patients requiring blood-thinning medication. Our patient-focused approach ensures your therapy is safe, effective and tailored to your specific health needs. We combine comprehensive management with rapid on-site testing, immediate dose adjustments and extensive patient education to deliver improved clinical outcomes, minimize risks and maximize your quality of life.

Conditions Treated

Anticoagulation therapy is used to prevent or treat blood clots and reduce the risk of serious complications like stroke or pulmonary embolism. It is commonly prescribed for the following conditions:

Anticoagulation Therapy Services

Our specially-trained nurse practitioners, in collaboration with the medical director and your physician, coordinate and optimize each patient's anticoagulant therapy with:

Comprehensive health review: Your first visit includes a detailed history and physical exam, allowing us to fully understand your health and create a personalized care plan.
Risk and safety assessment: We carefully evaluate your risk of bleeding and falls to ensure anticoagulation is the right and safest choice for you.
Patient education and counseling: We provide extensive education, counseling, and resources on your therapy, empowering you with the knowledge to manage your health confidently.
Close monitoring and follow-up: Our team closely tracks your progress with regular follow-ups to ensure your treatment remains on course.
Advanced dose management: We use evidence-based national guidelines to manage and adjust your Warfarin dosage, ensuring optimal therapeutic results.
Coordinated physician communication: We maintain constant communication with your primary physician so that your care is seamless and integrated.

Convenient Point-of-Care Testing

For your convenience, we offer on-site International Normalized Ratio (INR) lab testing. This "point-of-care" test uses a simple finger stick to provide results in minutes, allowing our team to make any necessary medication adjustments immediately. This approach improves safety by eliminating treatment delays and leads to better health outcomes and greater patient satisfaction. We also offer telephone follow-up for patients who use external labs.

Seamless Referrals and Coordinated Care

We welcome referrals for any patient needing anticoagulation therapy. We specialize in providing smooth, coordinated care — particularly for patients transitioning from a hospital stay. We are committed to making sure you receive continuous, expert management without interruption.