Inpatient Oral Anticoagulation Management by Clinical Pharmacists: Safety and Cost effectiveness.

Background: Warfarin prescription for anticoagulation after cardiac surgery has always been a challenge for junior medical staff.

Methods: A prospective study was carried out to assess the quality of anticoagulation control by junior doctors compared with clinical pharmacists at South Manchester University hospitals NHS Trust. The junior medical staff prescribed warfarin for 50 consecutive patients from April to September 2006 (group A, n = 50) and experienced clinical pharmacists dosed 46 consecutive patients between February and May 2007 (group B, n = 46).