Every person with a bleeding disorder should have their own center at which they can access treatment. In Finland, in the treatment of hemophilia, von Willebrand’s disease and other coagulation factor deficiencies, the principles of centralized treatment are followed in accordance with international models and recommendations (www.WFH.org; www.euhanet.org). Treatment and follow-up are mainly concentrated at the clinics for hematology and other blood diseases of the university hospitals (HUS, KYS, OYS, TAYS and TYKS) and partly in larger central hospitals. In this way, emergency services, specialist laboratory facilities and multidisciplinary consultation services are available. The treatment centers coordinate patient treatment and follow-up in cooperation with the patient’s local hospital or primary health care. Surgical procedures requiring coagulation factor replacement therapy should be concentrated in university hospitals. A child’s treatment and follow-up are transferred to the adult clinic when the child reaches adulthood; the transition is coordinated by the children’s and adults’ care teams working in cooperation.
Finland currently has one centralized care center (EHCCC) and three treatment centers (EHTC) meeting European criteria; https://www.euhanet.org/centrelocator/
Treatment centers in Finland
Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) and Helsinki University Central Hospital (HYKS):
Adults
COAGULATION DISORDER UNIT
https://www.hus.fi/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/coagulation-disorder-unit
Departmental head: Anna-Elina Lehtinen
Coagulation Disorder Unit
Hematology Clinic
HYKS Cancer Center
Haartmaninkatu 4, Building 2
P.O. 180
00029 HUS
Tel. 09 471 74900 (nurses, callback service)
Tel. 050 427 1375 (departmental head Anna-Elina Lehtinen)
Tel. 09 471 73841 (duty specialist on clotting disorders)
In the Coagulation Disorder Unit, we focus on the comprehensive assessment of clotting and bleeding problems by examining laboratory data in the light of the clinical situation.
Our tasks are the early identification of coagulation disorders and the development of diagnostics, treatment and monitoring. Our unit serves several special fields. Our core activities are consultations and patient counseling.
The most common consultation questions addressed to us concern:
- treatment of blood clots and bleeding and their laboratory monitoring
- blood clots manifesting despite traditional medication
- prevention of clotting
- the preparation of patients with severe thrombophilia and bleeding disorder for procedures
- problems encountered by patients with congenital bleeding disorders
We organize monitoring for patients with severe thrombophilia or bleeding diseases (e.g. hemophilia and von Willebrand’s disease). Bringing the laboratory service and clinical activities closer together facilitates improvement in the focus of research, the interpretation of results and development of the test panel.
Children and young people:
CHILDREN’S COAGULATION DISORDERS OUTPATIENT CLINIC TAIKA
https://www.hus.fi/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/new-childrens-hospital/day-hospital-and-outpatient-clinic-taika
https://www.hus.fi/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/coagulation-disorders-children
Departmental head: Minna Koskenvuo
New Children’s Hospital
Stenbäckinkatu 9, Entrance D, 5th floor
P.O. 347, 00029 HUS
Helsinki
Tel. 09 471 73750 (appointments, Mon–Fri 9–2 p.m.)
Emergencies and urgent matters:
Tel. 050 428 4977 (Taika, duty nurse)
Tel. 09 471 72750 (Emergency clinic)
Nurses (weekdays 2–3:30 p.m.):
Tiina Vuorinen p. 050 428 7224
Susanna Piirainen p. 050 427 9489
Lääkärit:
Pasi Huttunen p. 050 427 0427
Minna Koskenvuo p. 050 427 0424
Satu Långström p. 050 427 9780
The Children’s Coagulation Disorders Outpatient Clinic sees patients with bleeding and clots as well as those at risk of clot formation. The coagulation clinic is open two days a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. In addition, on Thursdays there is the coagulation doctor’s “telephone list”. Response tests, starting or changing to a new medication, instructions on giving injections, etc. are handled at the nurse’s reception on Tuesday mornings. On Tuesday afternoons and Fridays, there is a joint reception with a doctor and a nurse. Attendance at the joint reception may be appropriate for a patient’s first visit, a control visit held at certain intervals, the last visit before moving to the adult side or when there is no longer a need for monitoring. At these receptions, the patient’s medication and other issues are individually and comprehensively reviewed.
Kuopio University Hospital (KYS)
Adults:
Head physician: Taru Kuittinen
Puijonlaaksontie 2,70210 KUOPIO
Puh. +358 17 172923, Fax. +358 17 172907
Tel. 044 717 2233 (emergencies)
At the Hematology Outpatient Clinic, we diagnose and treat coagulation disorders and
respond to consultations from other fields. Patients with bleeding diseases (e.g. hemophilia) have regular outpatient check-ups. We work in close cooperation with the laboratory.
The most common consultation questions concern:
- treatment of bleeding and its laboratory monitoring
- preparing patients with severe bleeding disorders for procedures
- problems of patients with congenital bleeding disorders
Children and young people:
Departmental head: Kaisa Vepsäläinen
Puijonlaaksontie 2,70210 KUOPIO
Tel. 017 172 442 (Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology)
The pediatric hematology unit of KYS operates as a hemophilia center specializing in bleeding and clotting diseases. It is part of Europe’s comprehensive network of treatment centers.
Our main tasks within the special responsibility area of KYS are the examination, treatment, guidance and counseling of patients with bleeding and clotting disorders. In addition, we respond to consultations from the central and regional hospitals of the region as well as from primary health care.
We treat patients from newborns up to 18 years of age in the Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology and outpatient clinic, after which the treatment and follow-up are smoothly transferred to the adult hematology unit or primary health care.
We strive for the earliest possible identification of severe coagulation disorders, such as hemophilia, and the effective prevention and treatment of clots and bleeding in accordance with the latest international recommendations. We work closely with other fields to guarantee comprehensive and cost-effective treatment and follow-up with due regard for quality of life at all stages of a child’s and young person’s life.
Oulu University Hospital (OYS)
Adults:
Departmental head: Timo Siitonen
OYS Entrance S, S6, Floor R
Kajaanintie 50, 90220 Oulu
Tel. 08 315 3207 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.–11 a.m.)
Children and young people
Departmental head: Riitta Niinimäki
Departmental head nurse: Mervi Lahdenperä
OYS LD door, 2nd floor
Kajaanintie 50, 90220 Oulu
Tel. 08 315 5210 (department)
Tel. 08 315 5850 (outpatient clinic, Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–3 p.m.)
Tampere University Hospital (TAYS)
Adults:
Deputy head physician: Outi Laine
Center for Blood Diseases Outpatient Clinic
Tel. 03 3116 9985 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–3 p.m.)
Other times (emergencies), TAYS center 03 311 611
At the Center for Blood Diseases Outpatient Clinic, we investigate and treat bleeding disorders and abnormal clotting tendencies. We provide consultation related to the topic and carry out infusion treatments within the framework of the outpatient clinic. Appointments for monitoring hemophilia and severe von Willebrand disease are arranged at the outpatient clinic.
Children and young people:
Departmental head: Olli Lohi
Tampere University Hospital
Children’s Blood and Cancer Unit (L-wing 2nd floor)
Tel. 044 472 2490 (Children’s Blood and Cancer Outpatient Clinic, weekdays 8 a.m.–3 p.m.)
Tel. 03 3116 5573 (Children’s Blood and Cancer Department, during emergency department hours)
We treat children and young people from 0 to 18 years of age, who have various blood diseases or cancer. The outpatient clinic treats and monitors benign blood diseases, such as various anemias and bleeding disorders. Monitoring of cancer patients is also carried out at the outpatient clinic.
Turku University Central Hospital (TYKS)
Adults:
Chief physician – coagulation disorder patients: Marko Vesanen
TYKS T-Hospital
Hämeentie 11
Turku
Main entrance 18A, 5th floor, section B
Tel. 02 313 0000 (exchange)
Together with the other internal medicine departments, we are responsible for the initial treatment and examination of patients arriving at the hospital with internal diseases. The department has an outpatient clinic for coagulation diseases led by Marko Vesanen.
Children and young people:
Chief physician – coagulation disorder patients: Marika Grönroos
Tyks, Majakkasairaala, MH5
Savitehtaankatu 5
20520 Turku
Tel. 02 313 2430 (outpatient clinic, Mon–Thurs 7:30–8:30 a.m. and 2:30–3:00 p.m., Fri 7:30–8:30 a.m.)
Tel. 02 313 1416 (department)
In the hematology outpatient clinic and department for children and young people, we diagnose and treat various coagulation disorders. We respond to consultations from other fields at our hospital as well as from other hospitals in our region regarding bleeding and clotting patients. We treat acute problems of patients with coagulation disorders either in our own unit or in cooperation with the emergency room for children and adolescents. We plan the prophylactic treatment of bleeding patients going into operations. Bleeding patients attend regular outpatient check-ups at our unit. In June 2018, our unit, together with the adult hemophilia treatment unit, was granted European Haemophilia Treatment Center (EHTC) status.