Services at WNY BloodCare
Hereditary blood disorders can affect males and females of all races and socio-economic levels. There are many types of blood-related hereditary disorders; hemophilia is the most common.
People with bleeding disorders may face challenges that are physical, psychological, financial, and may even have obstacles that affect their employment. They are better equipped and prepared for these challenges through the education and care they receive at a Hemophilia Treatment Center. Multidisciplinary care centers like Western New York BloodCare provide comprehensive treatment, hope, and answers for a healthier life.
Comprehensive care
Comprehensive Care is an integrated, multidisciplinary, holistic approach to caring for people affected by bleeding disorders. Blood disorders can affect all areas of life, from daily interactions with family and friends to the career path one chooses and retirement lifestyles. Integrating medical providers, nurses, physical therapists, dentist, geneticists, dietitians, social work and the pharmacist under a single provider umbrella in a single clinical location streamlines and focuses care delivery for individual patients effectively and efficiently.
Comprehensive care and appropriate use of Factor are complementary components of successful treatment for bleeding disorders. Integrating the two – which is what happens when people take advantage of our Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) specialty pharmacy – creates superior outcomes for people affected by bleeding disorders.
Please note that Comprehensive Clinic appointments may last up to three (3) hours if seeing all available disciplines. This is also the case for your annual visit.
Home Therapy Program
WNY BloodCare offers a home care program that enables people with bleeding disorders to be infused with their clotting factor at home. The missing clotting factor is administered in the home by the patient or with a family member assisting in the process.
This home program provides immediate treatment and avoids the delay, stress, and cost of emergency room care. Patients or family members are trained to administer the factor and can be visited at home by WNYBC staff for follow up if necessary. Electronic home infusion logs are available to track home therapy. Home infusion logs are reviewed by the provider to monitor continuity of care.
Education
In one of our most important programs, Western New York BloodCare provides education to patients about their diagnosis, medical management, and treatment. Education is offered throughout the patient’s lifespan to include the transition into continued age spectrums.
Education is a team effort that involves the patient, family, physicians, nurses, our social worker, physical therapist, and the genetic counselor. Community education is also offered. School visits, employer visits, home visits, and educational presentations are available to community physicians and nurses who would benefit from learning to identify symptoms of bleeding disorders in their patients.
Pharmacy
340B Program – This program was created by Congress in 1992 as part of the Veteran’s Health Care Act. It allows Hemophilia Treatment Centers to purchase clotting factor at a discount for their patients.
The most important benefit of the 340B Program is that it provides funding for our Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC). These funds make it possible for us to serve our patients with the highest level of quality care. The funds from our 340B factor sales help us provide full comprehensive care and specialty coagulation laboratory services all in one sight. Having pharmacy services integrated with the clinical care of our providers maintains continuity and promotes better health outcomes.
Factor Distribution – In addition to providing factor infusions in our Center, we are able to ship factor and supplies to our patients on our Home Therapy program at no charge to our patients. Our in-house pharmacy coordinates all factor distribution and can be reached at (716) 218-4006.
Telemedicine
WNY BloodCare has incorporated telemedicine into our treatment options to improve access and care for our patients. We understand that situations arise when a physician is needed but an on-site visit is not an option.
Telemedicine is the use of audio and video communications over a secured network to facilitate a patient encounter with a medical provider from the comfort of the patient’s home, or designated location. A telemedicine visit may include speaking with a doctor, nurses, nutritionist, geneticist, and social worker.
WNYBC physicians reserve the right to determine when a telemedicine visit is appropriate.
Hemostasis Lab
Since bleeding and clotting tests are specialized and time sensitive, sending specimens to out-of-town labs often results in duplication of tests and delays when time is of the essence. We are the WNY region’s only lab to make a critical investment in state-of-the-art instrumentation, and an extensive test menu specifically designed for bleeding and clotting disorders. This high level of laboratory precision results in a high quality of medical care, rapid turnaround, greater efficiency, and reduced costs.
Comprehensive testing of all bleeding and clotting disorders ensures:
- Rapid response and turnaround
- The right tests at the right time
- Non-duplication of time sensitive tests
- State-of-the-art equipment, like our MSKUS unit
- Most cost-effectiveness for both insurers and insured
- On-site consultation & interpretation of results
- Lab tests
Our specialized diagnostic laboratory offers physicians, hospitals, and insurers state-of-the-art local lab services with the potential for up to a two-hour turnaround – a capability never before offered in the area. In fact, we are the only local or national lab providing this rapid response for go or no-go surgical decisions when there is a suspected bleeding or clotting disorder. This up-to-the-minute service results in reduced length of hospital stays and fewer delayed surgeries.
Our investment in the latest equipment is designed to benefit both your provider efficiency and, most importantly, the health of your patient. We provide consultation services on interpretation of results, quality assurance, and fast turnaround, especially in emergencies. It all adds up to a more cost-effective resource for both insurers and insured.
We are a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) certified laboratory. For a listing of lab tests, click here.
S.H.E Clinic
Bleeding disorders in women and young girls can affect everyday life – from missed days at work to missed time in the classroom – but often the disorders go undiagnosed. Bleeding and clotting disorders in girls and women can go undiagnosed. On the third Monday of each month, Hematologist Dr. Beverly Schaefer and Gynecologist Dr. Shaveta Malik can diagnose and treat bleeding disorders in the female population at the Specialized Hematology Experts Clinic – our S.H.E. Clinic.
The S.H.E. Clinic, a division of WNY BloodCare, is a medical home for females at every stage of their lives.
Heavy menses could be a sign of a bleeding disorder. In fact, of those that present with excessive menstrual bleeding, 20% – 30% could have a bleeding disorder.
The S.H.E. Clinic is one of a handful of clinics in the country bringing together Hematology and Gynecology to provide diagnosis and treatment to girls and women with bleeding and clotting disorders. The S.H.E. Clinic offers specialty lab analysis that starts with a simple blood test. Treatments are provided depending on the individual needs of patients.
S.H.E. Clinic services include:
- Hematology evaluation
- Specialty lab
- Gynecology
- Reproductive strategies
- Drug therapy
- Social Work
Telemedicine visits are available for those eligible for remote visits.
A visit to the S.H.E. Clinic and a simple blood test may improve your quality of life!
Social Work
Our Licensed Medical Social Worker meets with all of our patients and provides support and guidance through an annual assessment of psychosocial issues, and will provide need-based community referrals.
The following services are available through our Social Worker:
If you are a patient/caregiver and need to speak with someone regarding any of concerns noted, or any other psychosocial need, please feel free to contact us today at (716) 896-2470 ext. 4007.