Henry Ford Hospital Hemophilia Partnership Brings Visitors from India
Oct. 29, 2008
CONTACT: Zoila Brown Zbrown1@hfhs.org
Henry Ford Hospital Hemophilia Partnership Brings Visitors from India
DETROIT – In a unique partnership, the Henry Ford Hemophilia Treatment Center is collaborating with a treatment center in India to improve hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder in both countries.
The Twinning Program approved by the World Federation of Hemophilia is the only program of its kind in Michigan, which pairs developed countries with underdeveloped countries to work together with shared goals and improve hemophilia care in both countries. Health care professionals from Karnataka Hemophilia Treatment Center will be visiting Henry Ford Hospital Nov. 5-11 as part of the partnership to improve collaboration and learn about the latest treatment options for the disorder.
Henry Ford and Karnataka are believed to be the first centers to initiate a partnership with information technology where real time web links are being set up to provide medical consultations from both groups including participation in conferences to better communicate treatment options for hemophilia. The project is expected to be completed in the next few months.
“Henry Ford has also provided factor products to treat hemophilia patients in India because that resource is not readily available to patients there,” says Angela Lambing, M.S.N., coordinator of the Henry Ford Hemophilia Treatment Center.
One of the first collaborative research projects involved with both countries involves the use of acupuncture to manage pain associated with hemophiliacs. Managing daily pain is a challenge for many older hemophiliacs due to chronic end stage arthritis caused by bleeding in the joints. Medication to ease pain includes over-the-counter medication, and prescription analgesics containing codeine, opioid or morphine-based medications. The purpose of the study is to look at non-medication strategies to effectively deal with chronic pain; reduce chronic pain evidenced by a reduction of opioid use; improve quality of life due to improved pain control and confirm the minimal incidence of bleeding complication with the use of acupuncture needles in this population.
The two-center comparative study between Henry Ford and the Karnataka Hemophilia Treatment Center in India is one of several collaborative examples that may help in improving treatment options throughout the world. "Such an endeavor is indeed a two way process, with our counterparts in India gaining from our expertise and technological advancements, whilst we get to see first hand what's accomplishable with limited resources at hand, a particularly important aspect, especially in times of economic challenges," says Philip Kuriakose, M.D., medical director, Henry Ford Hemophilia Treatment Center.
The visit from colleagues in India will include a tour of Henry Ford Hospital as well as opportunities to talk to health care professionals about the challenges and opportunities for the latest treatment options to better treat the disorder. For further information about the acupuncture study or hemophilia treatment options at Henry Ford Hospital call Angela Lambing at (313)-916-9094 or email her at alambin1@hfhs.org.
