Clinical and economic effectiveness of an inpatient anticoagulation service

We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate clinical and economic e nd points achieved by a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service compared with usual care (50 patients/group). The primary therapeutic end point was the rime between starting heparin therapy and surpassing-the activated par tial thromboplastin time therapeutic threshold. The primary economic end po int was the direct variable cost of hospitalization from admission to disch arge. No significant differences between groups were noted for the primary therapeutic end point. Total hospital costs were significantly lower for pa tients receiving pharmacist-managed care than for those receiving usual car e ($1594 and $2014, respectively, 1997 dollars, p=0.04). Earlier start of w arfarin (p=0.05) and shorter hospital stay (5 and 7 days, p=0.05) were asso ciated with the pharmacist-managed group.