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Date of Award
Spring 2024
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Department
Physician Assistant; College of Health Sciences
First Advisor
Professor Sophie M. Farley
Abstract
Over the last century, the average life expectancy has increased remarkably. In medicine, new populations emerge constantly, accompanied by their individual needs. One of these populations on the rise is patients who take anticoagulant medications. In addition to the accumulating number of patients taking anticoagulant medication, the types of medications being prescribed have changed drastically throughout the years. While anticoagulant medications have produced countless invaluable positive changes in health outcomes, they come with specific risks. One of the risks most commonly associated with anticoagulant use is an increased bleeding risk after sustaining injury. In the circumstances that a patient who takes anticoagulant medication sustains a head injury, a strategic and specific plan for medical management is necessitated by their healthcare team. This project examines the current information for managing these patients. Areas of focus will include the management of patients on novel direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), as these medications are newest to the market and are gaining popularity, as well as the optimization of resource utilization to better match the individualized goals of care for these patients.
Recommended Citation
Valente, Katerina, "The Evaluation and Medical Management of Head Injury in Patients Taking Anticoagulant Medications" (2024). Capstone Showcase. 95.
https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/showcase/2024/pa/95
The Evaluation and Medical Management of Head Injury in Patients Taking Anticoagulant Medications
Over the last century, the average life expectancy has increased remarkably. In medicine, new populations emerge constantly, accompanied by their individual needs. One of these populations on the rise is patients who take anticoagulant medications. In addition to the accumulating number of patients taking anticoagulant medication, the types of medications being prescribed have changed drastically throughout the years. While anticoagulant medications have produced countless invaluable positive changes in health outcomes, they come with specific risks. One of the risks most commonly associated with anticoagulant use is an increased bleeding risk after sustaining injury. In the circumstances that a patient who takes anticoagulant medication sustains a head injury, a strategic and specific plan for medical management is necessitated by their healthcare team. This project examines the current information for managing these patients. Areas of focus will include the management of patients on novel direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), as these medications are newest to the market and are gaining popularity, as well as the optimization of resource utilization to better match the individualized goals of care for these patients.