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 anticoagulated therapy.

In some countries, doctors generally or the thrombosis service agree that patients should manage the self-monitoring of long-term oral anticoagulation on theirs 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.