Hematology

The Hematology program at Nemours offers comprehensive care for children with conditions of the blood including sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, anemias, thrombotic disorders, and many other complicated hematological disorders by Board Certified pediatric hematologists/oncologists.

Nemours hematologists are trained in multiple specialties—pediatrics, hematology and oncology, for example. We provide excellent care that places the patient and family at the center, and we believe that communication is central to the process. This is accomplished with sensitive physicians, nurses, social workers, Child Life Specialists, pediatric nurse practitioners, and others.

The Nemours divisions of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology have a close partnership with the Nemours Clinical Management program to implement a cutting edge electronic medical record that will allow physicians the most comprehensive ability to integrate current medical records from various services and also follow trends in children’s health over time, all at the touch of a button. This carefully planned approach to medical records allows us to improve the quality of health care, and may ultimately help to improve our understanding of disease.

Consultative services and therapeutic management are available for all pediatric hematology problems. Ongoing care is coordinated with the involvement of the child’s primary physician.

The Hematology program also provides long-term follow-up and preventive care to children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. Sickle Cell care is provided using a multidisciplinary approach. The sickle cell clinic involves psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, two dedicated physician specialists and other specialists who work together to ensure that the patient receives the best care possible.

The Division participates in the National Sickle Cell Clinical Trials program supported by the National Institute of Health. The Division also works closely with Jefferson Medical School researchers focusing on sickle cell disease. There are also specific educational programs for patients and families with sickle cell disease, as well as for teachers and school nurses involved in the care of children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.

There are also special clinics for hematology patients with orthopedic problems and for patients with coagulation disorders.

The inpatient and outpatient units caring for children with hematologic disorders are staffed by pediatric nurses with specialty training in hematology, led by nurse leaders and nursing educators dedicated to the care of children and adolescents with blood diseases.

Outpatient care is delivered in the Pediatric Oncology Day Therapy Suite. This area was built in 2005. It is a state of the art outpatient area where a variety of services can be delivered to patients. The nurse team provides services including assessment, drug infusions, pheresis, blood transfusion, minor procedures, patient and caregiver education, nursing care and surveillance. Nurses work collaboratively with providers to care for each patient’s needs during the clinic visit. The Day Therapy Suite offers toys, games, arts and crafts with child sized furniture for play time and large comfortable areas for rest in a bright open area overlooking the hospital grounds. The Day Therapy Suite has an area designated especially for teens. Teens can receive drug infusions, blood products or other treatments, in a space of their own, while playing computers and video games. This area is protected from the noises and activity sometimes associated with the younger patients. Two patient service representatives, an insurance verification representative, a clinical abstractor, and an administrative support assistant are available to provide support services for patients utilizing the outpatient area.

When hospitalized, a child with a hematological disorder will be placed on one of four patient care areas in the hospital depending on the patient diagnosis, the intensity of therapy, the level of care the patient needs, the patient/family issues that need nursing intervention for each hospitalization.

There is a growing bone marrow and stem cell transplant program. There is a specially protected environment for children undergoing bone marrow and stem cell transplants.

There is a specific program designed to expedite the transition of older adolescents reaching age 21 to the care of hematologists trained in internal medicine. There are outreach clinics in southern New Jersey and Sussex County, Delaware in which hematologists care for children.