Comprehensive Care
The Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center prides itself on treating the whole person, not just the hemophilia. As such, the care we provide is comprehensive. Comprehensive care of the child with hemophilia is defined as supervision of all medical and psychosocial aspects affecting the child and family.
Comprehensive care serves various needs of children with hemophilia, including:
Dental Care
All children need good dental care to prevent problems later in life. We recommend that a child's first dental checkup occur between ages 2 and 3. By encouraging good eating habits, daily brushing routines and regular checkups, you can prevent many problems. It is important to let your dentist know about the child's hemophilia, so that dental care can be coordinated with the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center team. The Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics Division at Cincinnati Children's is located on the fifth floor of Location C, 513-636-4641.
Home treatment is the process by which trained family members and patients assess bleeding episodes and, when necessary, administer the infusion of clotting (or coagulation) factor at home.
Infectious Disease
Consultation with an infectious disease physician is available at the Hemophilia Clinic once a month. Currently, Dr. Peter Frame, an expert in infectious diseases, attends the Comprehensive Clinic to monitor hemophilia patients infected with HIV / AIDS and to offer information and participation in clinical trials at the AIDS Treatment Center.
Transition Clinic
The Transition Clinic is more commonly referred to as the Over 21 Clinic since the hemophilia patients served by this clinic are over 21 years of age. Dr. Palascak, Director of the University of Cincinnati Hospital Hemophilia Clinic, the adult care social worker and nurse coordinator all attend this clinic once each month to assist in the care of patients who are 21 years or older. The clinic allows for a smoother transition to adult hemophilia care. Normally, patients are seen for several years in the Transition Clinic.
Team Members
- Hematologists
- Pediatric hematologists are experts in the care of children and young adults with bleeding disorders. The hematologists will oversee the child's comprehensive hemophilia care.
- Nurse Coordinator
Nurse coordinators are the link between the child with hemophilia and other members of the treatment team. The nurse will help arrange routine tests, visits and medical referrals.
Hemophilia Clinic Nurse
Clinic nurses are registered nurses (RN) specially trained to evaluate bleeding episodes, administer treatments and instruct families on home therapy.
Health Educator
Nursing educators are registered nurses who are knowledgeable about health-related issues such as growth and development.
- Social Workers
- Social workers are knowledgeable about community services and have received special training in individual and group counseling.
- Physical Therapists
- Physical therapists attend hemophilia clinic and plan individual programs for maintaining healthy muscles and joints based on annual range of motion assessments.
- Genetic Counselors
- Genetic counselors provide information to families about inherited bleeding conditions and counsel families about carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia.
