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Computer control of anticoagulant dose for therapeutic management
Objective:
To improve the standard of managing anticoagulant treatment and provide a basis for therapeutic quality control.
Design:
Implementation of a comprehensive computerised system for decision support.
Setting:
Three anticoagulation clinics in South Warwickshire.
Subjects:
Patients in South Warwickshire receiving anticoagulant treatment from September 1988 to March 1989.
Main Outcome Measure:
International normalised ratio was measured and recorded at each visit.
Results:
688 Patients' visits were analysed statistically, and a 38% improvement was achieved in the results of international normalised ratios falling within the recommended therapeutic ranges of the British Society for Haematology.
Conclusions:
The implementation of a computerised anticoagulation support system resulted in better management of patients. The system provides a basis for uniform management of treatment and a common platform for national or international trials.