Young girls with bleeding disorders are statistically less likely to have their bleeding symptoms, especially as regards menstrual bleeding, addressed by physicians. Nurse Lydia Johnson reached out to Dr. Powell, OB-GYN to include her expertise in the quarterly meeting to discuss the care of this specific patient population. Initially, the clinic served just a few patients each year, but the clinic has expanded to care for more than 20 adolescent females with bleeding disorders. Our clinic is now recognized by the Foundation of Women and Girls with Bleeding Disorders, and we have seen increased patient satisfaction as well as a decrease in no-shows as more girls are receiving the care they need in an inclusive environment.

Additionally, the team was approached by the STARS program coordinator to provide an in-service about Hemophilia to EMS personnel at a local facility. Due to the positive feedback, this team began to provide educational programs for all Bleeding Disorders to EMS personnel in Southern Illinois and the Greater St Louis area. Patients and families are given information about the STARS program and our providers have helped to create individualized care plans for each patient. The Bleeding Disorders Team has received a Nursing Fellowship Grant from the National Hemophilia Foundation for the STARS and Beyond Clinical project. The educational program was formalized with the intent to broaden the scope of EMS personnel specific to Bleeding Disorders across the United States. Such programs provide EMS personnel with the knowledge to offer emergency care to patients with Hemophilia to decrease their use of the emergency department as well as contribute to lower anxiety, decreased time to treatment and reduced treatment costs.