Blood work

[annaconner]

My husband and I live in Scotland and come to TV twice a year for three months at a time.Unfortunately he has had to be started on Warfarin for AF and requires regular monitoring. Is there anyone in the same situation an if so how do they manage this and does the insurance pay or is it self funding.

[graciegirl]

My husband and I live in Scotland and come to TV twice a year for three months at a time.Unfortunately he has had to be started on Warfarin for AF and requires regular monitoring. Is there anyone in the same situation an if so how do they manage this and does the insurance pay or is it self funding.

No one has answered you so I am going to try. You will need to consult a physician to get an order for lab work and then take the order to a private lab. We use Quest Labs. They are all over The Villages but we use the one in Palm Ridge, across from the High School and behind Lang Eye Center. The lab will send the results to the doctor you consult.

Our insurance covers the lab work but you could go in and ask them whether your insurance from Scotland can be used. They don't ever seem to answer a phone and the service is walk in, first come, first served.

Good health to you both.

[Average Guy]

No one has answered you so I am going to try. You will need to consult a physician to get an order for lab work and then take the order to a private lab. We use Quest Labs. They are all over The Villages but we use the one in Palm Ridge, across from the High School and behind Lang Eye Center. The lab will send the results to the doctor you consult.

Our insurance covers the lab work but you could go in and ask them whether your insurance from Scotland can be used. They don't ever seem to answer a phone and the service is walk in, first come, first served.

Good health to you both.

You can make appointments online so you do not have to wait as long when you get there.

[villagetinker]

The village health system tend to have long wait times for first visit (months), I am guessing that you will need something much quicker, so check with the urgent care facilities, or private practice doctors in the area.
Hope this helps.

[Carl in Tampa]

I have no idea how you would handle paying for physician appointments and blood work when you come from a country with socialized medicine, but I agree with Gracie about the Quest Lab. I use the same one and have always been able to walk in and get attention with no waiting.

One of the good things about Quest is that you establish an account and then you can go on the Internet and view the lab results yourself.

[billethkid]

Citrus cardiology in Lake Sumter Landing has what they call a "coumadin clinic".
The nurse who runs it is Yvonne. All she does is take appointments for coumadin/warfarin monitoring. She has the latest equipment that allows her to prick your finger and run the test right then and there for results.

She is very knowledgeable and is almost always right on schedule.

Citrus Cardiology....(352) 751-3356

Good luck.

[billybye]

Another thumbs up for Citrus, but there are other options than taking the rat poison. I am on Xarelto - no blood work or diet restrictions. Eliquis works also like Xarelto.
Canadian Mfg drugs good prices on these drugs - stay with Canadian manufactured only.

[rosygail]

You can get a small monitor that allows you to check your own coumadin level. I have one and it's great! No more trips to the lab for a blood draw. It works just like a blood sugar monitor used by diabetics. One drop of blood on the test strip and less than a minute later you have your number. It is the same device that is used in the doctor's coumadin clinic! The one I have is by COUAGUCHEK. I've been doing my monitoring at home for 3 years and highly recommend it!

[PennBF]

I agree with Citrus. Yavone is really good, Go once a month or every 6 weeks and get the results in a minute or two. She will provide adjustments if needed and get Dr. to renew prescriptions if necessary. Having been going to her for about 6+ years and am very happy!:wave:

[annaconner]

The problem of alternative anti coagulants to Warfarin is that there is no antedote should you be involved in an accident. warfarin requires Vit K which is universal.

[billethkid]

Not all alternatives to coumadin/warfarin are for all patients needing blood thinners.

Eliminating the monthly check would be nice if all other issues are equal, including pricing.

[blueash]

Your doctor in Scotland will likely be ordering 3 months of meds for you when you come here. Hopefully you will be on a stable dose not still be trying to find the right dose. Once you are stable testing can be done monthly which will require you to have two tests here if you have one shortly before leaving Scotland and one upon returning. One question is does your insurance cover you when in the US? Clinical labs have ridiculous starting charges for their labs. Insurance companies here have negotiated discounts from the list cost which are often over a 90% reduction. You don't want to pay their list price. If you have no coverage you may wish to contact the labs in the area to negotiate your discount, paying cash at the time of service.
Labcorp has a program,( I don't know what the discount might be) called Lab access partnership program but here is the Oct 2012 price list
http://www.liviahealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/LAP-Pricing-Newest-Oct-2012-copy.pdf

Quest does not seem to have any discount program unless you qualify under HHS Federal Poverty guidelines, but you can always ask. Other labs may also have programs. The other concern is if a dose alteration is needed, are you going to have someone local who can provide you with care? Plan ahead.