Who do we treat?
The AzHTC provides clinical care for patients with various bleeding and clotting disorders and provides cutting edge treatments specific to bleeding disorders.
Hemophilia and Bleeding Disorders
At the AzHTC, we see patients of all ages and provide treatment for injuries, sudden bleeds, prevention planning, counseling, and comprehensive clinics. Our program includes many elements, such as physical therapy, social work, injury prevention planning, bleeding assessment and rehabilitation, and psychosocial counseling for all patients throughout their lifespan. Doctors from both Pediatric and Adult Hematology provide care and expertise.
Thrombosis and Clotting Disorders
At the AzHTC, patients with thrombosis manage their symptoms through specialized visits and medication as directed by our providers. We have unique clinics available for thrombosis patients where they have access to specialized care.
Services Provided by the AzHTC:
- Laboratory diagnosis of clotting and bleeding disorders (including specialized lab testing such as diagnostic studies, factor assays, inhibitor titers)
- Individualized treatment plans for routine treatment, management of emergency treatment and/or surgery
- Inpatient and outpatient treatment and management
- Educational programs for patients, families, school personnel and community health care providers
- Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team assessment and treatment recommendations at the patient’s annual clinic evaluation
- Physical therapy evaluation, treatment and education
- Psychosocial support including crisis intervention, life transition support, direct counseling, parenting education, substance abuse counseling, psychiatric and psychological referral
- Coordination of care with primary care providers and other subspecialty providers
- Genetic counseling, testing and education
- Prenatal testing, and obstetric and gynecological consultation and management
- Dental consultation and case management
- Assistance with transition from pediatric to adult care
An initial appointment is made through the AzHTC Program Coordinator, (520) 626-4152. This appointment can be made by the patient or family, referring physician, or other health care professional. Referring physicians can fax referrals to (520) 626-7077.
The patient will be seen by the hematologist or the nurse practitioner, the nurse, psychosocial provider, and – when appropriate – the physical therapist, and/or geneticist, and financial counselor. A medical and social history will be taken. Available services will be discussed, and the team will determine with you any educational and/or diagnostic needs you may have.
Definitely not. The services provided are at the discretion of the patient and his or her health care provider. Patients may take advantage of any of our services, and still receive their hematology care through another provider. The HTC does not provide primary pediatric or adult care, and it is recommended that patients continue routine, non-hematologic care through their primary care provider.
Each patient is required to have a comprehensive evaluation by our multidisciplinary team every one or two years, depending on the severity of their disorder. Our findings and recommendations are then sent to the patient or family, the primary care provider, and/or the referring hematologist. We will prescribe medication also that may be provided by the patient’s choice of home care company.
Published research has shown that patients with bleeding disorders seen at HTCs have a 60% less risk of death and/or serious complications from their bleeding disorder than patients who received all their care from non-HTC providers or institutions.
Accurate and prompt diagnosis is the key to successful therapy and prevention of complications of venous or arterial thromboembolism. AzHTC personnel are informed by current discoveries of common inherited genetic mutations that predispose individuals to such events. Our staff are skilled, knowledgeable and experienced in blood coagulation problems.
Knowledge of preventive medicine, carrier detection, genetic and prenatal counseling, patient education, blood product use and the complications of therapy make the AzHTC team uniquely trained to provide the full range of multi-disciplinary comprehensive services to patients and families with bleeding and clotting disorders.
Patients can receive free counseling, education and support services that might not be available in a private physician’s office. This includes, but is not limited to, visits to a child’s school, contact with the school nurse, information about insurance coverage, home care delivery, and Medicare and Medicaid (AHCCCS) coverage. The patient and/or family members can be taught intravenous access, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection techniques so that therapy can be given at home as well.
Education can help patients manage their disorder, remain more medically independent and prevent complications caused by inappropriate medical management. Center staff will provide regular information about the latest research and advances in treatment and treatment products. Patients may, when available, also participate in clinical trials for new products.
The Comprehensive Care model is a partnership. Together we formulate an optimal, individualized management plan.