Print PageAnticoagulation Monitoring Service
About Us
Anticoagulants such as Warfarin are “blood-thinning” medications which are usually prescribed to prevent blood clots such as stroke, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE).
Beaumont Hospital’s Anticoagulation Monitoring Service (or Warfarin Clinic) provides monitoring and advice for patients who are taking anticoagulant medications, as well as initiating any relevant actions where appropriate. The service is nurse-led, under the supervision of a Consultant Haematologist.
Education is offered to both new and existing patients with the goal of ensuring that patients understand their indication for therapy, their target range, and the risks of over- and under-anticoagulation. Patients are also educated about necessary diet and lifestyle modifications, and about potential drug interactions.
The service runs daily from Monday to Friday. Our nursing and medical teams are based in Beaumont Hospital but blood testing has been relocated to St Joseph’s Hospital in Raheny. This relocation was part of a Beaumont Hospital initiative to facilitate social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Warfarin levels are monitored with a blood test called an INR and recorded in both the Hospital computer system (called DAWN) as well as in the patient’s own yellow Warfarin record book.
Blood tests in St Joseph’s Hospital are done in the mornings only.
- Monday and Wednesday from 08:00 to 11:15
- Tuesday and Thursday from 08:00 to 1:30
- Friday from 08:00 to10:40
COVID-19
Another expansion of services during the COVID-19 pandemic was the introduction of drive-through point of care INR testing for patients who are unable to attend phlebotomy during their period of isolation. This has been facilitated by the Beaumont COVID hub.
Referrals
New referrals to the Anticoagulant Monitoring Service come from the clinical teams in Beaumont Hospital and are done electronically. External referrals (e.g. from GPs) will first need to be accepted by a consultant in Beaumont Hospital. Once a referral is received and approved, patients will be contacted with the date and time of their first appointment and will usually attend for education on Day 2-3.
Subsequent appointments will be printed into the yellow Warfarin record book, along with the recommended doses to be taken until the next visit.
Location & Anticoagulant Staff
Anticoagulant Monitoring Service is located on the ground floor of Beaumont Hospital. We are the first office on the right as you enter the main entrance of the hospital, opposite the Security Department.
Blood testing is performed in the phlebotomy department of St Joseph’s Hospital, Raheny.
CNM 2 Anticoagulant Service - Emmylou Lapitan
Staff Nurses:
- Margaret Moore
- Juliet Curran/Sharon Wilson
- Caitriona Payne
- Secretary:
- Maria Wilson
Consultant Haematologist - Dr. Karl Ewins
Phlebotomy Service - Provided by the Phlebotomy Department, St Joseph’s Hospital, Raheny.
Contact Numbers
Secretary - 018093982 (For non-clinical queries (i.e appointments)
Nurses - 809 3497 / 797 7908 (For clinical queries)
Email address: warfarinoffice@beaumont.ie
Postal address: Anticoagulation Monitoring Service, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9 D09V2N0
Useful educational links
Warfarin Information Leaflet
Phlebotomy Service for warfarin patients