Teens concluded the weekend by providing feedback about their experiences. They loved getting to connect with their peers in the HoG community, trying new experiences, and gaining valuable education they can carry with them for the future.

If you have questions about HoG’s teen programs, please reach out to Kristi Fulford Director of Camp and Client Events at kffulford@hog.org or 770-518-8272.

• Donate to our Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month or World Hemophilia Day campaign to support global aid efforts.
• Share your story on social media using hashtags like #BleedingDisordersAwareness, #BDAM, and #Hemophilia. Tag us so we can amplify your voice!
• Engage with HoG’s posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter).

 
By raising awareness and bringing bleeding disorders to the attention of policymakers, we can increase access to care and treatment. These global efforts are only possible because of generous donations from supporters like you.
 
Let’s come together this March and April to make a difference. Donate, share, and spread the word!

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the program:

• Applicants must be an HoG patient who has hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease, or another bleeding disorder. You may also be a child of a parent who died from complications of a bleeding disorder and who was a patient of HoG.
• Applicants must reside in Georgia AND have been a permanent resident of Georgia for one year.  
• Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.5.
• Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, vocational, technical, or professional degree program OR be accepted by an accredited college, university, vocational, technical, or professional degree program.

Scholarship recipients must agree to volunteer for a minimum of 12 hours with HoG or other approved organization. This requirement must be completed by May 31, 2027.
 
For more information, call 770-518-8272 or email Emily Brown at ekbrown@hog.org

Please don’t wait to pre-qualify!

Once you are pre-qualified you have until April 30 to complete the online application. 

Cabins will participate in exciting activities each day.  During the week, campers will get to experience programming that is centered around education, community building and experiencing new adventures. Each evening, we will wrap up our day with an all-camp activity and time for reflections on their day. Registration will be open in early March. If you have questions, please call Kristi Fulford at 770-518-8272, ext. 330 or via email at kffulford@hog.org.

Attention volunteers: We can’t host camp without you! Camp will start for volunteers on June 6, 2026.  We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help us this summer! 
If you have questions, please call Tori Josselson at 770-518-8272, ext. 333 or via email at thjosselson@hog.org.

1. Any time you have an insurance change, call the HoG pharmacy to give us your new insurance information. If you receive a new card in the mail, that is a good indication your plan has changed.
2. Be cautious of any insurance brokers who may try to get you to change your plan. They might switch you to a plan that is not accepted by all your providers.
3. Know your out-of-pocket costs for your insurance plan. Always check your medical bills to make sure your insurance was sent the bill.
4. Enroll in flexible spending money benefits with your job if that is offered.
5. Ask for help if you need it.

 
Your Hemophilia of Georgia Outreach Social Worker can help you understand your benefits and offer guidance to help you stay insured. If you have questions, please contact your Social Worker or contact Emily Brown, Director of Social Work, at 770-518-8272.

Social workers play a critical role in advocating for and helping our patients to live better lives. Hemophilia of Georgia provides social work services to every patient, no matter their diagnosis. HoG social workers assess the individual’s needs and provide services and programs to help. Our social workers:

• Provide education about health insurance, including how to obtain insurance and programs that can assist with premium payments
• Provide education about HoG financial support programs, including preventive dental, educational success, and professional development
• Provide referrals to community resources for financial or social support
• Provide education, information, and suggest skills to use for those experiencing needle aversion
• Assist young adults with the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare
• Identify and remove barriers to ensure people use their medication as prescribed

We appreciate and value the contributions of our social workers as part of our comprehensive, compassionate, and patient-centered services. If you do not know who your assigned social worker is, please call 770-518-8272.

If you need assistance, Georgia Access Assisters are available to help you understand your options for coverage. Assisters are trained by Georgia Access to help consumers, especially those in underserved communities, understand their benefits and rights, review options, and enroll in Marketplace coverage. Assisters can be found on the Georgia Access website under "Resources & Support." Your HoG social worker is also available to provide you with education to help you find the plan that best meets your needs. However, your HoG social worker cannot make specific recommendations on which plan you should buy.

Premiums for marketplace plans are expected to increase significantly this year. Some plan premiums may increase as much as 40%. We suggest researching plans early. People with a bleeding disorder typically reach their deductible early in the year due to their expensive medications.  They should pay close attention to deductibles as well as in-network coverage for Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs).  Individuals with bleeding disorders should also avoid emergency only plans with high deductibles. 

Finding a hematologist can be tricky. Be sure to find a doctor that works with an HTC. Other specialists will have little experience with hemophilia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people who get care at an HTC live longer and have fewer problems with their bleeding disorder. For questions about enrollment and finding an HTC near you, you can call Hemophilia of Georgia at 770-518-8272.

• Protection: Prevent further injury by immobilizing the area or using crutches.
• Rest: Rest and protect the sore area. Take a break from any activity that may cause pain.
• Ice: Apply something cold to reduce pain and swelling.
• Compression: Wrap the area with an elastic bandage, such as an Ace bandage wrap, to reduce swelling.
• Elevation: Keep the area in pain at or above the level of your heart to reduce swelling.

Why Ice?

Treating injuries often requires applying either ice or heat. Why is ice recommended for a bleed? Ice shrinks the blood vessels, slows blood flow to the area, and helps the body to heal. Heat, on the other hand, increases blood flow. When treating a bleed, always use ice.

Ice can be much more than frozen water, however. Here are a few additional ways you can apply “ice” to a bleed:

• Use a bag of frozen peas
• Ice packs (instant and gel packs)
• Ice tape

Hemophilia of Georgia’s Pharmacy offers a product called “Instant Ice Wrap”, a compression wrap that cools by evaporation. It works great for bleeds because it can wrap around the entire joint, and it is reusable. Contact us at 770-518-8272 for the HoG Pharmacy or 770-709-0124 for the Beacon Pharmacy to learn more.

Register today: www.hog.org/golf  

• Hemophilia of Georgia Pharmacy
• Beacon Pharmacy

Pharmacy Closings (A pharmacist will be on call for emergencies.)
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 27-28 - Thanksgiving
December 24 - January 1 - Christmas through New Year’s Day
January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• Climbing the tower
• Giant swing
• Horseback riding
• Boating and fishing
• Arts and crafts
• Archery
• Mini golf
• Disc golf

In addition to the camp activities, families participated in engaging educational sessions led by HoG’s staff. Offerings this year included:

• Healthy Cooking Class – hands-on learning about nutritious meals 
• Session with a Physical Therapist – tips on joint health, mobility, and safe exercise
• Bleeding Disorders Jeopardy – a fun, interactive way to test knowledge
• Educational Scavenger Hunt – exploring camp while learning key bleeding disorder facts
• Dad Duty – a special session just for dads to connect and share experiences

Evenings were filled with laughter and bonding through campfires, a glow dance in the gym, and a carnival at the pool. Time dedicated to strengthening family bonds is one of the many benefits of HoG’s Family Camp. The next HoG Family Camp will be in the spring. Watch your mail for an invitation and sign up quickly!

• Share our Giving Tuesday posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter)
• Encourage friends and family to participate
• Challenge others to match your donation
• Share your story and tag us so we can amplify your voice

If you have questions, please contact our Community Engagement Team at 770-518-8272.

• Helped fund 5 Hemophilia Treatment Centers and 2 Telehealth Clinics
   
• Outreach Nurses: 
  • Provided 1,314 home nursing visits
  • Created 891 emergency action plans
  • Helped educate 578 medical and school professionals
  • Taught 45 families how to self-infuse
  • Provided 96 medical alert identifiers to patients
     
• Social Workers:
  • Awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 23 aspiring individuals through the John Youtsey Scholarship Program.
  • Helped 4,705 patients with emergency assistance
  • Provided 448 home social worker visits
     
• Provided over $531,000 in research funding to improve treatments and to find a cure
   
• Engagement and Advocacy teams helped create community connections:
  • 754 people attended educational camps and events
  • 91 kids attended Camp Wannaklot
  • 415 volunteers came out to help us with our programs and events
  • 11 advocates went to Washington, D.C.

We look forward to continuing to serve, educate, and engage the bleeding disorder community throughout the year!

You can also sign up for our reminder program and we’ll send you a reminder to order. You can sign up for the program at www.hog.org/my_hog/.

Pharmacy Closings (A pharmacist will be on call for emergencies.)

October 13
November 11
November 27-28
December 24-January 1