It takes more than medicine...

 

Backus HTC Celebrates 5 Years of Comprehensive Care

Published December 10, 2009

 

Horizons in Hemophilia, December 2009

By Mary Lou Cygan MSN, RN, CPNP
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic, Backus Children's Hospital

Backus HTC 1
Kyle, his mother, Kim and HoG Social Worker Alan

On November 10, 2009 we celebrated five years of comprehensive care for individuals with bleeding disorders in Savannah.

It was November 1, 2004 when we received a letter from Hemophilia of Georgia announcing our first grant to support comprehensive care in Savannah at Backus Children's Hospital. That grant was followed by funding from MCHB and the CDC. In 2008 we received funding from the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network (ATHN) to participate in the ATHN Quality Counts Program. That grant was renewed for 2010.

Thirty-five staff, patients, family members and representatives from Hemophilia of Georgia attended the anniversary celebration which included a buffet dinner at Carey Hilliard's Restaurant.

During the party, Cynthia Gonzales, MD, director of our comprehensive program, presented a chronological outline of the events that have occurred in the last 5 years.

Backus HTC 2
SheRon Weeks, Sherrill Mitchell, Mary Lou Cygan, 
Cynthia Gonzales MD, Shae Huffard King

The Backus HTC comprehensive care team has grown over the years and now includes physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapist, genetic counselor, dietician, and a dentist.

Luncheon educational programs are now offered at each monthly comprehensive clinic. In addition, the Parents group, PRIDE (Presenting Realistic Ideas to Develop Empowerment) has received grant funding to sponsor fun educational outings several times per year such as bowling and attending a Sand Gnats game.