On Friday, December 6, 2013, representatives from St. Luke’s Hemophilia Treatment Center hosted an award presentation event in recognition of its facility being awarded an HTC Capacity-Building Grant from the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF). The event, held at the Anderson Center in Boise, ID, included guest speakers, a check presentation photo opportunity and tour of the facility. In attendance were representatives from St. Luke’s Health System; St. Luke’s Hemophilia Treatment Center; Joe Kleiber, NHF’s Senior Vice President for Chapter Services; the Idaho Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation; and patients, industry and medical partners, corporate sponsors and community-based supporters.
St. Luke’s Hemophilia Treatment Center’s grant, totaling $90,000 over a two-year period, will go toward an on-site psychologist who will provide support for senior patients. The center was recognized by NHF for the overall care and treatment it provides to the patient population in the state of Idaho. The relationship that it shares with the Idaho Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation is a model that is shared with other HTCs and NHF chapters across the nation.
Since the inception of the HTC network, NHF has vigorously advocated for legislation on the federal level that ensures “adequate” funding so that patients continue to receive the critical medical treatment and care that has helped countless individuals living with bleeding disorders live longer, healthier lives. In recent years, “adequate” funding has been harder to secure because of the current economic and political environment.
NHF recently implemented the HTC Pilot Capacity-Building Grant Program to offer capacity-building grant funds to HTCs in need of support. Each grant will help the HTC fulfill its commitment to patients; increase collaborative working relationships between HTCs and local chapter(s); and support evidence-based practices that address measurable impacts in defined areas of patient and HTC needs. The grants are funded by the ACT Initiative (http://bit.ly/1kA9eun).
St. Luke’s Hemophilia Treatment Center was one of several HTCs that were awarded grant funding from the pilot program. NHF and its leadership have a strong desire to support the efforts of HTCs. It anticipates acquiring additional financial support and partnerships to continue offering this type of grant program once the positive impact and outcomes of the pilot project are realized.
