Download your FREE guide to Preventing Anticoagulant Medication Errors now.
Anticoagulants are considered to be one of the most at risk classes of medication for adverse events. In fact, in U.S. emergency departments anticoagulants accounted for 33% of adverse drug events in the elderly, and approximately 34,000 medication errors are reported yearly in long-term care facilities with warfarin alone. Given its high use, warfarin accounted for 83% of errors with anticoagulants in a 2010-2011 study. Enoxaparin (Lovenox®) came in second place with 13% of errors. Dabigatran (Pradaxa®) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) which are being used more and more in place of warfarin also have major risk of adverse events especially in the elderly and unlike warfarin do not have a reversal agent.
Medication errors with anticoagulants are most commonly associated with giving the wrong dose or errors in follow-up care such as failure to order lab tests, communicate lab results, or change dose in response to INR. Compared to medication errors with other classes of drugs, medication errors with anticoagulants tend to be more common in patients over 75 years of age, occur more often in the documentation and monitoring phases of medication use, occur more often with follow-up care, occur often within 7 days after a transition into the LTC facility, and are more likely to be repeated.
There also are several other risk factors for errors in anticoagulation therapy.
Communication
Safe use of anticoagulants depends on communication between multiple healthcare professionals internal and external to the LTC facility. Nurses serve a central role in coordinating care between external prescribers, dispensing and clinical pharmacists, consultant pharmacists, and laboratory staff.
Influences on Resident Response
A residents response to warfarin can be constantly changing due to changes in diet, new drug therapies such as commonly used antibiotics, prior use of reversal agents, and changes in resident health status. It cannot be assumed that a resident will stay on a certain dose of warfarin once steady on therapy.
Complex Management During Transitions and Concurrent Therapy
Elderly patients are at a particularly high risk when transitioning from one anticoagulant to another. For example, switching a resident from warfarin onto enoxaparin after surgery and then transitioning him back. Transition phases require intensive monitoring and communication with all care providers.
Lapses with “Hold’ Orders
When a temporary hold order for warfarin is ordered for an elevated INR, often the dose is forgotten to be resumed.
Infrequent Follow-Up
Nurses cannot rely solely on consultant pharmacists to review INR levels as their visits are only once every 30 days. Patients who have highly fluctuating INR levels need to be monitored every 1-2 weeks.
The following are strategies to help prevent errors in residents who are on anticoagulation.
Standardize Anticoagulation Therapy
A facility-based anticoagulation protocol should be utilized to help ensure consistent and appropriate initiation, dosing, monitoring, and adjustment of anticoagulation therapy.
There also should be protocols for planned and emergency reversal for anticoagulation therapy. Grane Rx consultant and clinical pharmacists can be consulted to help your facility develop appropriate guidelines.
Require Initial and Scheduled Lab Tests
INR draws should be utilized for residents newly prescribed warfarin, new admissions on warfarin, and residents returning from the hospital on warfarin therapy. Baseline hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, liver function tests, and renal function tests should be performed on residents prior to initiating warfarin and periodically while resident is on warfarin therapy. A set protocol should be developed for monitoring and follow-up of INR levels for residents on warfarin therapy.
Know INR Goals
All residents should have a set INR goal determined by prescribers based upon clinical indication. This goal should be communicated to clinical and dispensing pharmacists as well as written on the resident’s MAR.
Ensure Timely Communication of Lab Results
A standardized process for communicating lab results to the prescriber and pharmacist within 2 hours of receipt should be established. Nurses should directly consult the prescriber and pharmacist anytime the INR is outside of target range, or when renal function tests, liver function tests, hemoglobin/hematocrit, or platelet count results are outside of established limits.
Document the INR
Anticoagulation logs or flow sheet should be used to help track the dose and INR for residents on warfarin, so trends can be easily seen.
Dispense Exact Doses
The pharmacy should dispense exact doses needed whenever possible. Clear dosing instructions should be listed on the MAR.
Standardize Administration Time for Warfarin
Warfarin should be administered at a time which allows for appropriate review of test results and dose adjustments before administration time.
Verify INR Prior to Warfarin
As a last line of safety, nurses should review the previous INR and any documented dose changes prior to warfarin administration to make sure necessary interventions have not been overlooked.
Establish and Follow a Policy for Handling “Hold’ Orders
When a hold order is written, the prescriber should indicate the reason for the hold, when and what dose to resume, and any other resident specific instructions. These instructions should be included in the pharmacy profile and in the nursing MAR. INR draws should be continued according to prescriber instruction and physicians and pharmacists should be notified when levels return to normal.
Evaluate the Potential for Interactions with Other Medications
Warfarin has the potential to interact with numerous other medications which may result in subsequent increases or decreases in INR. When new orders are being received for residents on warfarin, remind physicians of the resident’s warfarin therapy and last INR. Additionally, watch for communications from the pharmacy concerning potential interactions and management strategies.
Summary Chart of Warfarin Interactions
The following chart lists many of the drug, herbal, and dietary interactions that may cause a resident’s INR to fluctuate and potentially go outside of the therapeutic INR range of 2 to 3 or 2.5 to 3.5. The chart is by no means all inclusive, but lists the most prominent drug interactions that you should monitor for in your practice setting. It also gives information on how these interactions will affect the INR as well to what clinical signs to look for and how to manage them.
About Grane Rx
For nearly 20 years, Grane Rx has been a leading Grane Rx is pharmacy supplier and professional clinical group for long-term care communities and PACE providers throughout pennsylvania and beyond. Every day we help improve care for thousands of residents, improving medication adherence while expanding efficiencies and lowering costs. we really do know how to Make Pharmacy Simple.
Have Questions About Anticoagulant Medication Errors?
Contact your Grane Rx representative at 866-824-MEDS or visit www.GraneRx.com for more information.
Download your FREE guide to Preventing Anticoagulant Medication Errors now.
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