Evaluation of the First International Normalized Ratio after Acute Care Discharge to the Primary Care Environment

Purpose To determine the percentage of patients who maintain a therapeutic INR (international normalized ratio) when presenting for their first INR follow-up in the primary care setting after hospital discharge. Methods Prospective observational trial enrolling patients newly initiated on warfarin. Results Data for 35 patients were collected. Fifty-one percent of patients were therapeutic at their first follow-up lab visit with 23% subtherapeutic and 26% supratherapeutic. Conclusion A low percentage of patients were therapeutic and more intervention is necessary in the immediate post-discharge time.