Dear HoG: Annual HTC Visits

Horizons in Hemophilia, Spring 2008

 

Dear HoG:

My son, who has moderate hemophilia (factor VIII) is 10. In order for me to take him to the HTC, I must take off an entire day from work. We have a really great pediatrician who is much closer to our home. Now that my son is older, is it really necessary for him to go to the HTC every year? Could one of your nurses teach our pediatrician how to look after my son's hemophilia?

--Want to do the right thing

Dear Want:

I understand that you want to get the best care for your son. It is hard when you are working to juggle everything that needs to do be done for your family.

We see the pediatrician as the community resource for your child and the overseer of his total healthcare. By coming to the HTC once a year your son is seeing the experts in the field who will help him specifically with the hemophilia portion of his health care. Additionally, it is important for your son to take responsibility for his health care. Visiting the HTC should make him aware of his condition and may encourage him to seek care for his bleeding problems.

Our nurses would be delighted to go to your pediatrician's office and educate the staff there about bleeding disorders, specifically with your son in mind. We can give them a copy of Protocols for the Treatment of Hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease. Your hematologist at your HTC will al so send a letter summarizing your clinic visit to your pediatrician. Thanks for asking such an important question.