Navigating Antithrombotic Therapy: Clinical Pearls for Healthcare Professionals

Course Overview
Antithrombotic therapy is essential for preventing and treating thrombotic events, yet selecting the right agent in the right clinical situation remains a frequent challenge. This continuing education program provides healthcare professionals with a clear, practical framework for evaluating the appropriateness of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy across a variety of real-world clinical scenarios. The course begins with an accessible review of clot formation and the distinct roles of antiplatelets versus anticoagulants, then explores how clot location, underlying conditions, and patient-specific risk factors guide therapeutic decision-making. Through examination of common indications such as PCI, PAD, atrial fibrillation, and VTE, participants will learn how to differentiate evidence-based therapy from potentially inappropriate use. 
Special focus is placed on complex clinical situations—such as when antiplatelet and anticoagulant indications overlap—and the evolving recommendations that guide their combined use. The program also addresses the unique risks and considerations involved in caring for older adults, including bleeding risk assessment, Beers Criteria implications, and strategies for safe monitoring. By the end of the session, healthcare professionals will be equipped with practical, guideline-informed tools to optimize antithrombotic therapy and to identify inappropriate or unsafe prescribing in vulnerable populations. 

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Recall the pathophysiology of clot formation, recognizing how it relates to the indication for an antiplatelet or anticoagulant.
• Identify clinical scenarios that may require the use of more than one antithrombotic and recall recommended durations of combination therapy.
• Summarize antithrombotic considerations in special populations and tactics to reduce risk of bleeding. 

About the Author/Presenter 
Jessica Behrens, PharmD, is a long-term care consultant pharmacist practicing in several states across the nation. Her favorite part of the job is training new consultants and developing educational material for the pharmacists and nurses she has the privilege of working with. Her diverse pharmacy background spans traditional retail and hospital pharmacy practice, work as a Coumadin clinic pharmacist, and experience as a pharmacology instructor and has given her a passion for education and patient safety. 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing, Pharmacy, Physician

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