Blood Disorders
Find the expertise you need to manage your noncancerous blood condition
Blood disorders like hemophilia, sickle cell disease, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and Von Willebrand disease are complicated conditions. If managed well, you can live a long healthy life. Take charge of your health with help and support from Novant Health hematology. You’ll receive lifespan care of blood disorders at our comprehensive adult and pediatric Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs). Our highly skilled providers have devoted their careers to providing remarkable hematology care so you can maintain everyday activities.
Understanding hematology
Hematologists are internal medicine doctors or pediatricians who have special training in disorders of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system.
Leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma are cancers of the blood or immune system. Novant Health Hematology has a team of providers that specialize in managing these malignant conditions.
If you have a non-malignant blood disorder, you may be referred to a Novant Health classical hematologist that specializes in inherited or acquired bleeding and clotting disorders and hereditary blood disorders like sickle cell disease and thalassemia. A classical Hematologist is often consulted by other providers to evaluate unexplained blood problems.
Your hematologist will work with a team of experts to help you and your referring provider manage your condition. Your team may include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers, and integrative health specialists.
What to expect from a visit
If you are referred to one of our hematologists, our team of blood specialists will thoroughly review your history, symptoms, old and new laboratory and radiology results, and blood samples to find the cause of your condition. You’ll be given treatment options designed to help you feel better and manage your overall health.
Bleeding and clotting disorders
Blood-related illnesses can cause pain and fatigue, affecting your everyday activities. We’ll listen to your concerns to help determine the best way to treat your condition and manage your symptoms.
Imaging and laboratory tests help us provide you with an accurate diagnosis and path forward. Our team of experts will create effective treatment regimens for the most common conditions as well as rare blood disorders. The conditions we treat include:
- Hemophilia: A noncancerous blood disorder where blood doesn't clot properly because of low levels of specific proteins.
- Von Willebrand disease: Similar to hemophilia, this condition results from blood clotting issues and is often inherited.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): This happens when a blood clot blocks a deep vein, often in the leg.
- Pulmonary embolism (PE): This condition occurs when a blood clot travels to the pulmonary artery blocking blood from your heart to the lung.
Hemoglobin disorders
Hemoglobin is the protein in your blood that carries oxygen through your body. If you have an inherited blood condition, it can affect the red blood cells in your body. Depending upon the type of disorder and its severity, you may or may not require medical treatment. The most common genetic blood conditions we treat include:
- Sickle Cell Disease: An inherited disorder, most prevalent in those of African descent, that causes damage to the small blood vessels resulting in pain and other organ damage.
- Thalassemia: A genetic condition where red blood cells do not survive normally because of abnormal hemoglobin.
Iron deficiencies
Your body needs the right amount of iron to function properly. When your iron levels are too low, you can experience symptoms of anemia including extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and irritability. Iron deficiency can be diet-related or caused by heavy menstrual bleeding. Depending upon its severity, you may or may not require medical treatment.
Hematology Treatments
You may benefit from medicines, lifestyle changes, and therapies after receiving a non-malignant blood disorder diagnosis. Our specialists consider the latest clinical research and severity of your disease when developing a treatment plan. More importantly, they listen to your concerns and work with you to come up with solutions to help you manage your condition with minimal disruption to your life.
Access Lifespan Blood Disorder Treatment
Managing a non-malignant blood condition is often a lifetime commitment. Receive compassionate care at a Novant Health from birth through adulthood in our CDC-designated Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTC) at Novant Health locations and St. Jude Affiliate Clinic at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital. HTCs are multidisciplinary comprehensive clinics providing holistic care for bleeding disorders. Your team will include visits with a hematologist, social worker, pharmacist, and physical therapist.
Coordinated pre-surgical care when you need it.
Genetic blood conditions and noncancerous hematology disorders can affect unrelated procedures and health concerns. Your specialist will work closely with other experts like obstetricians, orthopedic, general surgery, and heart and vascular providers to ensure consistent, high-quality care.
Before any procedure, you'll be contacted by various Novant Health team members to help coordinate your surgery. You'll be asked about your health history. Based on that, you may require a consultation with an anesthesiologist.
You'll be informed in advance about arrival times, preparation, what clothes to wear, and what information to bring with you. If you have any questions, our care team is happy to answer them.
Why Choose Novant Health?
Our highly skilled providers have devoted their careers to providing you with remarkable hematology care. We’re here for you with a team of experienced doctors, nurses, geneticists, and other blood specialists to provide compassionate support and the multidisciplinary care you need. We stay on top of the latest research to ensure you have access to the most advanced treatments to manage your blood condition and live life to the fullest.
Advancements in hemophilia treatments and medicines for blood conditions can give you a new way to fight your disease. Novant Health hematologists participate in studies and programs dedicated to helping you live better with or overcome blood disorders. Through our participation in Community Counts (CDC), a public health monitoring program funded by the CDC division of blood disorders, we share real-world data to help pioneer new and better treatments.
You're not alone on your healthcare journey. At Novant Health, you’ll have all the resources you need to tackle your blood disorder – from birth through adulthood. We take a collaborative approach by working together with experts from different specialties to support you every step of the way. When needed, your hematologist will collaborate with experts in gastroenterology, physical therapy, cardiology, OB-GYN and more. Our social workers and nurse coordinators will provide added support to ensure you get the services you need to thrive.
Managing a non-malignant blood condition is often a lifetime commitment. You’ll receive compassionate care at a Novant Health federally designated Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) for adults. HTCs are multidisciplinary comprehensive clinics providing holistic care for bleeding disorders. Your care team will include visits with a hematologist, social worker, pharmacist, and physical therapist.
