INR Clinic - Fairview Red Wing Medical Center

INR and Anticoagulation Clinic

Monitoring blood coagulation

Introduction
For patients requiring anticoagulation therapy, regulating their medication to meet therapeutic levels can be a challenge—especially in the early stages of therapy. The slightest adjustment to blood thinning medication, the addition of other medications, such as antibiotics, and dietary changes can affect INR levels.

The INR (International Normalized Ratio) is a laboratory test that calculates how long it takes for blood to clot and is used to monitor your body's response to warfarin (or Coumadin, the brand name). This test can be done either in the laboratory or by a nurse in the INR clinic. Fairview Red Wing Health Services has an INR clinic staffed by registered nurses that monitors and help ensure the safety of patients who are on the blood thinner warfarin under the supervision of the patient's primary care provider.

Patient education and regular INR testing are key factors to the success of therapy. Patients are given information on diet, exercise and alcohol consumption, as well as possible drug interactions that may impact the effectiveness of the anticoagulation medication.

Conditions we treat
• Artificial heart valve replacements

• Atrial fibrillation

• Certain heart conditions

• Certain hereditary disorders of the blood

• Deep vein thrombosis

• Patients at risk for stroke

• Prevention of clot formation after certain surgeries

• Pulmonary embolus