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Drive-Through Model for Anticoagulation Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kaveh Rezaei Bookani1,2,3, Iva Minga2,4,3, Manisha Chander5
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northshore University Health System, Evanston, IL, USA.
Insights
To ensure continuity of care during the COVID-19 pandemic, a novel drive-through anticoagulation clinic was established. This initiative maintained essential patient monitoring while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for healthcare delivery, particularly for patients requiring chronic anticoagulation.
- Patients with conditions like atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, or valvular heart disease depend on regular monitoring at anticoagulation clinics.
- Social distancing measures mandated during the pandemic threatened access to these essential healthcare services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation of a drive-through anticoagulation clinic.
- To ensure the continuation of care for patients on chronic anticoagulation therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To provide a model for other clinics to adapt during public health crises.
Main Methods:
- A drive-through clinic model was designed and implemented to facilitate safe patient access.
- The clinic prioritized social distancing and isolation precautions.
- Standard anticoagulation management protocols were adapted for the drive-through setting.
Main Results:
- The drive-through clinic successfully provided continuous care to patients on chronic anticoagulation.
- The initiative effectively maintained social distancing, mitigating COVID-19 transmission risks.
- The model proved adaptable for ongoing anticoagulation management during a pandemic.
Conclusions:
- Drive-through anticoagulation clinics are a viable solution for maintaining patient care during pandemics.
- This innovative approach ensures the safety of both patients and healthcare providers.
- The described model offers a scalable strategy for healthcare continuity during public health emergencies.
Abstract:
The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a major challenge for providers and patients. A large number of patients with atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, or valvular heart disease are chronically anticoagulated with vitamin K antagonists and rely on frequent follow ups at anticoagulation clinics for management of their anticoagulation therapy. The need for isolation during COVID-19 pandemic can potentially limit access to health care including anticoagulation clinics and directly affect the care of patients on chronic anticoagulation. Therefore, we created a drive-through clinic to bridge the gap of continuation of care and preservation of social distancing precautions. In this manuscript, we report the steps in implementing such initiative which can be applied to other clinics during a pandemic.
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