Patient Programs
Patients, families, and primary care physicians utilize a 24/7/365 -hour emergency hemophilia call line staffed by hemophilia clinical nurse specialists with backup from DHMC pediatric and adult hematologists. Written, community-based emergency plans of care are provided for each patient.
All patients with moderate or severe hemophilia are candidates for home IV factor infusion. Currently 90% of patients meeting this criterion over 5 years of age, self-infuse or are infused by a family member.
Other patient programs include:
- 24-hour hemophilia call line staffed by hemophilia nurse clinicians with backup by hematologists
- Factor replacement products
- On-site diagnostic coagulation laboratory providing rapid turn-around for factor assays and other specialized studies, including platelet aggregations
- Patient Registry that facilitates rapid and appropriate emergency treatment
- Qualitative and quantitative assays for diagnosing bleeding and thrombosing disorders
- Risk assessment and risk management in patients with idiopathic and cancer – associated thrombosis
- Management of therapy – resistant thrombosis
- Genetic counseling for bleeding and thrombosing disorders, and testing of susceptible individuals
- Anticoagulant clinic patient management
- Screening for viral exposure associated with clotting factor and for joint morbidity associated with congenital bleeding disorders
Outreach and Support Programs
The hemophilia program currently receives federal hemophilia related grant money that supports community outreach such as school visits, home visits, education of community physicians, nurses, and emergency room personnel. We provide a hemophilia support group for pediatric patients and families, as well as a week-long summer camp program for children.
Research Studies
Our Hemophilia program is participating in a new Universal Data Collection research study being condicted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) investigating new factor concentrates and inhibitors.
Research interests of physicians and scientists at Norris Cotton Cancer Center include:
- Innovative treatment approaches for bleeding and thrombosing disorders, and mechanisms and management of blood coagulation activation in malignancy
- Control of cancer growth by the blood coagulation mechanism
- Role of iron accumulation and age—related disease risk
- Development of novel treatment protocols for rare bleeding disorders
