Safely use blood thinners
15 million Americans are harmed each year in our hospitals. Half of these events are related to medication safety. Many people are harmed because they accidentally take their blood thinner medicine incorrectly. Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant medicine, or blood thinner, that is used to treat patients with blood clots or to prevent blood clots from forming in patients with heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Warfarin may also be used after orthopedic surgery to prevent blood clots or in patients with artificial heart valves. Many patients on warfarin may also be taking aspirin or other anti-platelet medications. In a retrospective cohort study published recently in Chest, Johnson, et . al found that 38% of warfarin users were also taking an antiplatelet medicine resulting in a 2.1x greater risk of major hemorrhage [adjusted odds ratio 95% CI 1.01-4.4]. There was no benefit noted in the combination users. [ Johnson, SG, et.al. Outcomes Associated with Combined Antipl