HoG / HTC What’s the Difference?

By Maria Manahan, VP of Finance and Operations

I don’t get out much.  I spend most of my working hours in the office, staring at performance reports, collaborating with coworkers on the hottest topics in hemophilia land and generating strategies for optimizing operational efficiency – whatever that means.  I seldom have the pleasure of talking to a client or an HTC nurse or social worker.  I don’t go to Camp Wannaklot, Family Camp or many other client activities that we sponsor.

But, occasionally, I have the opportunity to experience firsthand what sets Hemophilia of Georgia apart from other companies that boast of providing comprehensive disease management services to the bleeding disorder community.  When it comes to serving the Georgia bleeding disorder community in Georgia, is Hemophilia of Georgia “unique”?  I vote YES.

Since I speak Spanish, I often have the pleasure of speaking with clients who have yet to master the English language.  Early one morning I took a call from such a client.  I had a problem on my hands.  Yes.  I spoke his language, but I was totally confused by his questions. 

Caller:  I have an appointment with my nurse this morning.  I lost the directions to your office.  Can you give me the address?
Me:  8800 Roswell Road……
Caller:  Roswell Road?  My nurse _____ gave me another address.
Me:  Nurse ______?  We don’t have a nurse named ______.
Caller:  Yes.  She’s my HoG nurse.   She’s at Emory.
Me:  You must have an appointment at the Emory Hemophilia Treatment Center.
Caller:  Yes.  Yes.  The HTC at Emory, you know, HoG.

Or, sometimes a client will give an HTC employee a new address and think that he has given it to HoG.  Sometimes a client will ask me if I can relate a message to an HTC physician “next time you see her.”  See her?  Me?  My office is nowhere near an HTC.

While such incidents can lead to confusion and communication challenges, we embrace and celebrate them!  Our relationship with the HTCs is seamless, tight, real and, yes, unique.  It exists to such an extent that clients think we’re one and the same!  It’s a powerful, integrated way to deliver health care services that result in disease management at its best.

The HoG and Beacon pharmacists and staff work closely with the health care professionals at the Hemophilia Treatment Centers throughout the state to coordinate treatment plans for every client.  The HTC hematologists speak with our pharmacist on a regular basis and our pharmacies send dispensing records to the prescribing physicians every month. In addition, the HoG outreach nurses talk with the HTC staff and the HoG or Beacon pharmacists frequently to share important information about clients and their individual treatment.

All of this integration can be a little bit confusing at times for the clients we serve, but it is a welcomed confusion nonetheless.  If you’re a client, please remember that while we share care plans and some medical information, when it comes to changes in address, phone numbers and insurance information, you need to share twice – both with HoG and with your HTC.  And, if you should call early one morning and need directions to an HTC, I now have addresses and directions to all of our HTCs!