News

March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month

Date: 03/17/2021

Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that impact the blood’s ability to clot properly, leading to dangerous, excessive bleeding. While hemophilia is potentially the most well-known bleeding disorder, there are several others included in the bleeding disorder spectrum. The most common is von Willebrand disease, affecting both men and women equally or one in every 100 people(1). In almost all cases, bleeding disorders are inherited and likely diagnosed early in life.

At Specialty Therapeutic Care (STC), our Hemophilia Center of Excellence is focused on improving outcomes for patients impacted by this rare disease and raising awareness during Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month. While there is currently no cure for hemophilia, improvements to treatment methods help to manage symptoms, leading to better overall health outcomes for patients. Additionally, advances in gene therapy, where normal genes that clot blood properly are introduced into a person with hemophilia, have also yielded promising results and may potentially lead to cure(2).

“Bleeding Disorder Awareness Month is an important opportunity to highlight one of the rarest conditions in the world. With only 20,000 people in the US with hemophilia, this month gives a voice to a rare, but costly disease,” said Andy Matthews, Senior Account Executive at STC. “As someone diagnosed with hemophilia, I am happy to live in such exciting times with new therapies and educational resources that improve health, compared to what was available when I was growing up.” 

Focusing on patient education is key a piece of our Hemophilia Care Management Program, including our comprehensive Factor Product Guide for Hemophilia Patients (PDF) and medication training. Our program is also designed to address the needs of our patients through pharmacy and reimbursement services, including:

  • All factor products delivered to the patient’s preferred location
  • Pharmacist available 24/7
  • Comprehensive medication review
  • Benefit assessment
  • Copay assistance programs

Learn more about our commitment to empowering patients and their families as they navigate through the complex aspects of hemophilia by reading our STC Overview (PDF), or by contacting us today at 1.866.206.2626.

 

 

1. National Hemophilia Foundation – For All Bleeding Disorders. Hemophilia Fast Facts. March 2021. https://www.hemophilia.org/bleeding-disorders-a-z/overview/fast-facts

2. The Hemophilia, von Willebrand Disease & Platelet Disorders Handbook. Curing Hemophilia. March 2021.  https://www.hog.org/handbook/article/1/3/curing-hemophilia#:~:text=At%20this%20time%20there%20is,gene%20therapy%20are%20being%20tested.