RAYTEL Medical/Patient Self Testing For INR

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Maureen: "There's over 3 million patients in the country, to date, that are on Warfarin, and require INR monitoring."

Dr. Shemin: "In spite of the current methods of INR testing in the physician's office, we still see patients come back with complications of bleeding or thromboembolism because their INR got out of range."
"Home testing on a more frequent basis will allow patients to stay within range and therefore eliminate these major complications that patients are experiencing."

Barbar: "Monitoring my blood level at home is easier due to the fact that I save a lot of time. I don't have to wait in a doctor's office. I don't have to wait for results. The results are immediate."

Gail: "I can go anywhere in the world and I do have the ability to test and call in my results. So no matter where I am, I can call in my results and get a response from Raytel and my healthcare providers to see if my Coumadin and Warfarin levels have to be adjusted."

Dr. Shemin: "The studies that have been done, documenting the effectiveness of home testing, have been done in Europe where this type of testing for INR has been done for years. I think the data is strong and will be easily accepted as evidence based information for Drs. in the United States. The entry of Raytel providing services to patients who are anti-coagulated because of mechanical heart valves is significant. They are providing FDA approved devices, they're training the patient how to use them and they're providing a tracking system based upon their extensive experience tracking patients with pacemakers.

Maureen: "We receive faxes probably an hour after the patient tests. So we never worry that we're missing something or that the patient is in any danger of any kind."

Dr. Shemin: "When a surgeon discusses valve choice, the major discussion in regards to the mechanical heart valves since they have the durability advantage over tissue valves all centers around anticoagulation-taking the drug, what are the hassle factors, how frequently do you have to be tested and the anxiety of how anti-coagulation will change your lifestyle."

Maureen: "If a physician asked me would I recommend self-monitoring for a patient, I would definitely say yes!"

Gail: "I'm very happy with my lifestyle and I have Raytel to thank for it -- they have given me my life back."

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• anticoagulation
• patient
• self-testing
• monitoring
• arrhythmia