Ismaap
The International Self-Monitoring Association of oral Anticoagulated Patients (ISMAAP) was first proposed in Paris, France, in July 2001. It was officially founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2002 on the initiative of representatives of National Associations of patients on oral anticoagulation therapy.
In some countries, doctors generally or the thrombosis service agree that patients should manage the self-monitoring of long-term oral anticoagulation on their own and take control of their anticoagulation therapy. In these countries, reimbursement of the necessary equipment for self-monitoring is usually granted by the national health insurance authority.
However, in other countries, self-monitoring of long-term oral anticoagulation can be carried out only in very close cooperation with the general practitioner and/or the lab. In these countries, reimbursement by the national health insurance authority of the necessary equipment is for self-monitoring not yet possible.
The main activities of ISMAAP focus on patients on long-term oral anticoagulation, motivating them to take control of their own oral anticoagulation therapy and consequently achieve a better quality of therapy and an improved quality of life. Accordingly, the Association intends to issue patient guidelines that take into account the culture of international groups and the different status of patiens (age, educational level, family environment, etc.).
Objectives
ISMAAP aims to give patients continuous support about life on oral anticoagulation therapy and to motivate them to carry out self-monitoring to reduce the potential risks of thrombosis and haemorrhage.
Executive Commitee
 President:
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 Vice-President:
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 Treasurer:
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 Legal Advisor:
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Secretary: |
Medical Advisor : |
Dra. Adela Zaragoza,
Spain |
The General Assembly of ISMAAP in conference
This two days meeting took place in Geneva in June 2006. There were two keynote speakers Helen Alderson, Director of Development of the World Heart Federation (WHF) and Dr. Heinrich Körtke (Heartcenter NRW, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany). Ms Alderson guided us through the important work of the Federation. She felt that patient organisations were a missing link in their development and that we need to work more closely together.
PD Dr. H. Koertke, ISMAAP Medical advisor, talked about his research into the management of valve patient on lower therapeutic values by early training for self-management. He felt that therapeutic ranges may be kept too high because the service only had resources to test infreqeuntly. However when you were testing more often you can keep within a narrower and lower range.
One topic of discussion among the delegates was the lack of information for people on warfarin who travel to other European countries. Very often the medical professionals are unable to help with emergency dosing advice as the medication may be different, for exeample warfarin, phenprocoumon etc. . It can also be confusing for the healthcare professional as the colours of the various tablet are different in other countries.
Eve Knight