Anticoagulation in long-term care: how can we improve medication monitoring?

Thromboembolic diseases affect a significant proportion of older adults; however, due to the risks and associated adverse events with anticoagulation therapy, this population may be less likely to receive the best care. Among anticoagulant-related events within the nursing home, most involve oral anticoagulant agents and occur due to deficiencies in monitoring. With the recent approvals of new oral anticoagulant agents dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, more options are now available for treating thrombotic disorders. Ensuring that all members of the health care team are aware of the risks and benefits of these agents is paramount to improving the monitoring as well as safety in older adults who are at greatest risk for adverse events.