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Expanding Hematology Care at The Valerie Fund Center at Goryeb Children's Hospital
Dr. Christopher Lawlor joined The Valerie Fund less than a year ago but is already making a huge impact on care for our Valerie Fund patients. His goal is to provide world-class medical care for children and the whole family from start to finish. We are excited to announce new funding for Hematology programs at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Atlantic Health System Goryeb Children’s Hospital with a new full-time Hematology social worker and a full-time Hematology nurse navigator.
Care for children with blood disorders can be complex. At Dr. Lawlor's Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Goryeb Children's Hospital, they care for pediatric patients with chronic and complex blood disorders like hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, clotting issues, sickle cell disease and more.
Having a full-time hematology social worker and nurse navigator will add to the care of Valerie Fund patients. First and foremost, these two new positions will enable the Center to better serve the children with blood disorders currently being treated. It also enables the Center to engage in community outreach, to reach all patients including those in previously underserved areas. Patients and families may not realize what the center provides and what the full scope of the psychosocial services are, that being the hallmark of The Valerie Fund.
The hematology social worker will help patients better manage complex disorders that require chronic care and often medications. Blood disorders such as Sickle Cell Disease and Hemophilia are chronic diagnoses. These patients need to be cared for lifelong to help them maintain good health and achieve their goals and potential.
“ I am thrilled that we have the support from The Valerie Fund for a hematology social worker and a hematology nurse navigator. They will allow us to further advance the world class care that we are already providing for patients here, as well as increase our ability to reach out to new patients and participate in new innovative care.”
~Dr. Christopher Lawlor, The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Goryeb Children’s Hospital
The nurse navigator will help facilitate the multiple layers of specialty care that blood disorder patients require from the different specialists' evaluations and procedures required to maintain health. This role will coordinate access to transportation for appointments, follow up with patients pre and post appointment, and create educational materials in different languages.
Having these new positions supporting the lifelong diagnosis of a blood disorder will help give the patients the education and tools necessary to help them transition from pediatric to adult care.
The addition of these two new positions continues our efforts to help Dr. Lawlor expand the program and increase access to new medications, new clinical trials, and innovative therapies and opportunities for patients.
Dr. Lawlor is passionate about providing the best care possible for patients. Exuberant and energetic, and with an exciting vision for the future at The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Dr. Lawlor is breaking down barriers to care and expanding access to treatment and we are excited to support his efforts.
Dr. Lawlor and Valerie Fund patient, Ellie