Please see below for our center's various policies.
For Hemophilia Clinic
- If a patient no-shows for clinic, he or she will be sent an automated letter stating that they will not have additional medication refills without being scheduled for clinic. Once they schedule, refills can be given until the appointment. They will be informed that, should they miss that appointment, medications will not be refilled. This discussion will be documented in the patient chart.
- If a patient calls to cancel, they will be rescheduled for the next available or, if they prefer, they can call the check the week of the next clinic for any cancellations. When they are scheduled for the next clinic, they should be informed that if they cancel or miss clinic, medications will not be refilled. This discussion will be documented in the patient chart.
- In summary, if the patient misses two appointments (whether cancels or no shows), medications will not be refilled.
For Mild Bleeding Disorders
- For patients with mild bleeding disorders, refills and plans of care will be completed for up to 3 years without another appointment.
Region III Hemophilia Program
The HTCs in Region III affirm that all patients and families have the right to participate actively in their care, including choice of hemophilia treatment provider, treatment product, vendor of treatment products and home nursing services.
- Prescription refills: 24 hours is required for all refill requests. If the patient has an emergency need for factor, the specialty pharmacy should direct the patient to call the center so the medical staff can assess the situation and determine if the patient needs to be seen in clinic.
- Pharmacy changes: Patients must contact the center to request changes of pharmacy. The center will not forward prescriptions without permission from the patient.
- Please allow 5-7 business days for completion of routine forms and letters
- Depending on the nature of the forms requested and the last appointment, a clinic appointment with a provider may be required before completion.
- For urgent requests, a clinical team member will review the request to determine need.
The VCU Hemophilia Treatment Center at the Children's Hospital of Richmond is committed to helping our patients make a smooth transition from pediatric to adult health care. This process involves working with youth, beginning at ages 12 to 14, and their families to prepare for the change from a pediatric model of care where parents make most decisions to an adult model of care where youth take full responsibility for decision making. This means that we will spend time during the visit with the teen without the parent present in order to assist them in setting health priorities and supporting them in becoming more independent with their own health care.
At age 18, youth legally become adults. We respect that many of our young adult patients choose to continue to involve their families in health care decisions. Only with the young adult's consent will we be able to discuss any personal health information with family members. If the youth has a condition that prevents him/her from making health care decisions, we encourage parents/caregivers to consider options for supported decision making.
We will collaborate with youth and families regarding the age for transferring to an adult provider and recommend that this transfer occur before age 22. We will assist with this transfer process, including helping to identify an adult provider, sending medical records, and communicating with the adult provider about the unique needs of our patients.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
- Appointments with HTC staff: Pharmaceutical sales meetings are limited to one meeting per manufacturer per year. Homecare appointments are limited to two visits per year per company. All appointments should be scheduled by calling or emailing Katherine Lane Bains. Representatives should not contact other staff members for this purpose.
- Drop in visits: The center does not allow unscheduled drop-in visits from industry representatives and does not accept materials offered during an unscheduled visit.
- Materials: The center limits the acceptance of branded materials. Education and product brochures can be reviewed during scheduled industry meetings.
- Meals, etc.: Food, meals, or other gifts are not accepted during industry meetings.
CVCCD is an ATHN (American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network) Affiliate and participates in the ATHN Dataset. Through the ATHN Dataset, the center provides de-identified patient data from all comprehensive clinic visits to a safe, secure national database. Information provided to the ATHN Dataset can be used to support research and improve care. To learn more about the ATHN dataset and their data collection and collaboration efforts, please visit their website here. If you have questions about CVCCD's participation in the dataset, please contact the center.