Developing a multidisciplinary Young Women's Blood Disorders Program: a single-centre approach with guidance for...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Hematology
• Women's Health

Background:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) affects millions of women, with up to 20% having an underlying bleeding disorder.
• Many women with HMB face challenges in receiving adequate medical care, often being treated symptomatically without addressing the root cause.
• The significant impact of HMB on quality of life necessitates a comprehensive approach to care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary Young Women's Blood Disorders (YWBD) Program.
• To outline the collaborative efforts of various specialties in managing young women with HMB and bleeding disorders.
• To propose metrics for evaluating the success and support of such specialized programs.

Main Methods:

• Established a multidisciplinary program involving pediatric hematology, adolescent medicine, and pediatric/adolescent gynecology.
• Integrated expertise from laboratory coagulationists, nutritionists, and nursing professionals.
• Detailed patient selection, role of each specialty, testing strategies, care coordination, and overall management.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive YWBD program.
• Gained experience in patient selection, interdisciplinary collaboration, and tailored management strategies.
• Identified key components for effective care coordination and patient management.

Conclusions:

• There is an increasing demand for integrated care models for women experiencing HMB and blood disorders.
• The established YWBD program demonstrates success in providing optimal care to young women with HMB.
• Such programs are vital for improving health outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.