The Comprehensive Care Team Members
The comprehensive care team members are experts in bleeding disorders. They know about emergency care and care to prevent future problems. They can also offer you support and help educate the public about bleeding disorders.
Your main doctor is called your primary doctor. This team member may be an internist, a pediatrician, or a hematologist. An internist is an expert in medical diseases. A pediatrician is an expert in children’s growth and development and children's diseases. Here is a more detailed look at a hematologist and other comprehensive care team members:
Hematologist – is an expert in blood problems. The hematologist may be your main doctor. You and your family should know exactly what parts of your care are provided by the hematologist. For example, do you call your hematologist when you have a fever or just when you are bleeding?
Nurse Coordinator – is often the major link between the person with a bleeding disorder and the whole team. The nurse arranges tests and checkups, refers you to other experts such as the dentist when needed, and keeps records. The nurse teaches you and your family the basics of your disorder and how to treat yourself. They will check with you to see if your treatment is working. The nurse can provide information about your bleeding disorder to your local doctor, your school, or your job.
Nurse Practitioner - are nurses who have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements to assess and manage your health needs relating to your bleeding disorder. Nurse practitioners at your HTC work closely with your primary hematologist.
Social Worker – knows how your bleeding disorder can affect your life and how you feel. The social worker can help with both a crisis and the day-to-day problems with family, school, or work. They can assist you with insurance, financial issues, and government programs. One goal of this team member is to help prevent problems in your life, not just the ones in your body..
Orthopedist – is an expert in diseases of the bones and joints. With the advice of the hematologist, the orthopedist may do surgery on damaged joints. The orthopedist can order physical therapy to decrease pain, to prevent further damage, or to fix joint problems.
Physical Therapist – tests joints and muscles and measures how well you can move. This team member helps plan exercise programs and gives advice on how to take part in sports. The physical therapist may use ultrasound, water therapy, massage, or other means to improve joints and muscles.
Occupational Therapist (OT) – teaches you how to overcome any loss of movement or skills. The occupational therapist can teach someone who has problems moving how to manage daily tasks. Sometimes this team member helps the person with a bleeding disorder adjust to a change in the type of work they can do.
Dentist – is an expert in teeth and gums. Your local dentist may work with the one at the HTC to provide your routine checkups. Since the HTC dentist knows a lot about bleeding in the mouth, they often teach how to take care of your teeth.
Geneticist or Genetic Counselor – can explain how your bleeding disorder is passed from one generation to the next. The geneticist can draw a family tree that shows who is at risk for having the disorder or being a carrier. The geneticist can counsel a couple planning to have a baby. Sometimes the HTC nurse, social worker, or doctor helps with this service.
Reproductive Medicine – there are many types of professionals who may address your reproductive health needs, including a primary physician. Additional specialists in this area may include gynecologists, obstetricians, reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and midwives. An essential part of the care team, they may address issues in the reproductive tract, and work with the team to consider options related to fertility and future planning.
Psychologist or psychiatrist – helps with managing emotions and mental health.
Lab services – do the blood tests to check for and treat a bleeding disorder. Lab tests can also tell if you are having any kidney, liver, or immune system problems.
Radiological services – will give any x-rays if ordered by your doctor. A radiologist may provide detailed analysis of x-rays or other imaging to determine the extent of bleeding, possible joint damage, or healing progress.