What to expect at the center for clotting disorders
We believe that knowledge is power when it comes to your child’s health. Your thrombosis team is ready to help you and your child understand their diagnosis and work through how to treat or manage it. Regardless of where you are at in your healthcare journey, we are here for you.
Referral to a pediatric hematologist
Because we treat a variety of blood clots and clotting disorders, there are a few different ways in which we may meet. The two most common ways to initially meet your hematology team are referrals to our clinic from a primary care physician to explore family history or risk factors; or through a hospital stay in the event of an acute blood clot.
Your first appointment for clotting disorders
You and your child will meet with a thrombosis physician or advanced practice provider and a thrombosis nurse, who will ask you questions about your child’s health and family history. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions or talk about concerns. If your clot was diagnosed somewhere other than at Children’s Minnesota, your first outpatient appointment with our team will be approximately 80 minutes.
- We may ask you to get a new image (ultrasounds typically) of your clot at our radiology department so that we can have our specially trained radiologists review it.
- Other forms of imaging that we request are: MRI, CT, or angiogram. Sometimes imaging techniques take time to perform, require time to review with multiple specialists, or sedation is needed to capture accurate imaging. Your imaging may be scheduled a day or more in advance of a visit.
- We may also need further or repeat blood tests before or after your visit. Sometimes this can be scheduled during a sedation.
- If you were started on a medication to treat your clot before seeing our team, we will review if this medication is the best option based on clot, age, and other medical history.
- We will address future or ongoing care.
- We may request concurrent or future visits with other specialists for holistic care.
Follow-up visits
Your follow-up visit can typically last up to 40 minutes. Before the appointment, we may request imaging and blood tests based on your diagnosis. You can expect similar procedures to the ones on your first visit, but all exams and tests will be tailored to your individual care plan.
Your child’s care team will also help you manage follow-up appointments, ongoing monitoring, and any future tests to help keep your child on track.
Preparing for different types of appointments
When diagnosing, treating, or monitoring a blood clot or clotting disorder, your child may have multiple appointments with your thrombosis specialists. Different types of appointments may vary from one to another. To help you feel prepared and make the most of your time, we’ve outlined what to expect and how to plan.
Appointments with a physical therapist
The Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders has a dedicated physical therapist who is an important part of the care team. You may be referred by your provider to see our physical therapist if you find it difficult to get 60 min of exercise per day, have pain that makes it difficult to perform activities of daily living, or have other difficulties moving your body compared to people your age. You can also request to see our physical therapist to express your concerns.
What does your physical therapist recommend bringing to your appointment?
- Tennis shoes
- Comfortable clothing that allows you to move in multiple directions. Shorts or loose-fitting pants that can be pulled up past your knees work well.
- Water bottle
Appointments with a genetic counselor
A genetic counselor is available to help answer any questions you or your child may have about how certain bleeding disorders are inherited, as well as to discuss genetic testing options for your child and family.
During your visit, please be prepared to share any relevant medical history—especially if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with a bleeding disorder or has experienced heavy or prolonged bleeding. If any family members have undergone genetic testing, bringing a copy of their report would be very helpful.
Appointment attendance and cancelation
We understand that life can be busy and plans change. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, it’s important to contact the clinic right away so we can offer that time to another patient who needs care. For more details, visit our page on appointment attendance and no-show process.
