Biopsies and MSK Injections

Please see below the list of blood thinners and timeframes for ceasing meds prior to having a biopsy or MSK INJ.   

Every patient who is required to have one of these tests done must be asked if they’re taking any blood thinning medications.  If the answer is YES, then you will need to :

1. Determine which blood thinner is being taken
2. Advise the patient that we need them to stop taking the medication for the time period provided below corresponding to the medication that they’re taking – but that they MUST discuss with their own Dr to make sure it’s OK to stop taking the medication.  If it is NOT OK, then the onus is on them to let us know this and this then must be recorded in the patient record.

(The reason we need people to cease the medication is to decrease the risk of bleeding which can be a risk factor if someone is being injected or biopsied and taking blood thinning medication).

A new macro has been created (BIOPSYMSK) for all biopsy and MSK Inj appts to allow for documentation and record keeping, and to make sure that the correct questions are being asked and that the answers are being recorded.  Please remember to ask every patient that is making these bookings the blood thinner question and also to make sure you record the answer. 

Also a reminder that NO BIOPSY is to be automatically booked without following the biopsy protocol and checking with the relevant sonographers as required.

Also, don't forget the biopsy checklist that needs to be completed.