Understanding Home Therapy

It is very common for people with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders to inject factor concentrate away from the doctor’s office or hospital.  This is called home therapy.  Although most people infuse their factor at home, many infuse at school, work, or elsewhere.  Parents usually infuse the factor for a young child until he is old enough to learn to do it himself.

Home therapy is part of the comprehensive care plan.  It is overseen by the whole team.  The person with the bleeding disorder and his family are sharing responsibility for his or her treatment with the team. 

Home therapy does not replace seeing your doctor.  You still need routine check-ups.  You also need to call your doctor right away if you think you might be bleeding in your head, throat, neck, eyes, or stomach area.  These are serious bleeds.

The person with a bleeding disorder must let the HTC know about all of his bleeds and treatments.  Using a treatment calendar is a handy way to keep records.  With well-kept records and routine check-ups, the comprehensive care team can help prevent future bleeding and other problems.

The guidelines for home therapy in The Handbook are meant to be used along with those given to you by the staff at the HTC.  There is no substitute for being shown how to infuse by a hemophilia nurse.  She or he can watch you practice and correct any mistakes.  No one should try to do home therapy until he or she is comfortable with all the steps.