Contemporary Care of People with Bleeding Disorders

There are few haemophilia-specific educational opportunities available for members of the multidisciplinary care team (MDT); career progression is usually based on length of clinical experience rather than educational achievement. Following a review of existing educational courses and a survey of members, the UK Haemophilia Nurses Association (HNA) developed a new educational programme designed to support health care professionals moving towards practice at an advanced level, to support more allied health care led clinics and in anticipation of fully nurse and allied health led service provision.

The Contemporary Care of People with Bleeding Disorders course provides focused education in modern haemophilia care for members of the MDT, which complements mainstream advanced university modules available for nurses and allied health professionals within the UK and Europe, such as non-medical prescribing, physical assessment and consultation skills which are part of recognized advanced practice. Developing standardized education for allied health professionals with the UK/EU will enhance delivery of equitable care for people with bleeding disorders and will deliver similar outcomes of care regardless of geographical boundaries.

The residential training course has been specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s haemophilia care professionals and to be consistent with the HNA’s nurse competency framework (available on-line at www.haemnet.com). It is open to all those who are employed in a role principally focusing on direct haemophilia care delivery. The course is administered by Haemnet and is delivered by nurses who together have more than 85 years’ experience in haemophilia nursing. They are augmented by external experts in areas such as laboratory medicine, clinical genetics and psychological care as appropriate.

Participants are expected to bring and defend posters, attend breakfast journal clubs focusing on the role of allied health professionals in clinical care and other ‘hot topics’. They also attend a series of state of the art talks and workshops delivered by the course leaders and guest speakers. In all, there are six workshops, which cover:

  • Diagnosis, treatment and management of bleeding disorders
  • Genetics
  • Communication and care through the ages
  • VWD and the rare bleeding disorders
  • Musculoskeletal care
  • Advancing haemophilia care

Dinner each evening is preceded by a series of thought-provoking lectures delivered by invited experts in the field addressing:

  • Historical perspectives
  • Uses and abuses of statistics
  • New perspectives in care.

To receive a certificate of course completion, participants are also expected to prepare and present a piece of work either as an oral or poster presentation in a professional forum such as the annual meetings of the HNA, EAHAD or WFH.

The course ran for the first time in October 2016. It attracted 19 haemophilia nurses and physiotherapists from the UK and Ireland and as far away as Abu Dhabi. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with feedback forms completed by 18 of the 19 participants.

  • 18 participants felt their clinical practice would be improved as a result of attending the course
  • 18 participants felt that the course represented good value for money
  • 16 participants said the course met or exceeded their expectations.

The Contemporary Care of People with Bleeding Disorders course supports evidence-based practice and will enhance patient outcomes. It facilitates the educational requirements of UK haemophilia nurses and allied health professionals in their career development towards providing fully autonomous allied health professional led specialist care for people with bleeding disorders. The course can be used to fulfil the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy revalidation process, demonstrating both participatory education and reflective practice. The aim is that the course should run each year in October. for further details, please contact Mike Holland.

 

You can download the poster we presented at EAHAD 2017 on the Contemporary Care course by clicking the link below:

Contemp Care Abstract Poster v2