How We Met in Ostrava

The program was very packed, and to ensure no one missed anything, nannies looked after the children throughout the entire lectures.

During registration, each participant received a flash drive with an instructive and beneficial rehabilitation video. Many of us gathered before the program started over coffee and pastries, while others could not resist hot tea on the cold Saturday of the first Advent weekend. The all-day program began with an official welcome from Baxter. Then Martin Bohun took the floor on behalf of the Czech Hemophilia Society and announced the dates of events planned for 2015. The first of the physicians to speak was Zuzana Cermakova from the Department of Hematology and Oncology, opening the first block of lectures. She was followed by Bohumir Blazek and Hana Ptoszkova, both from the Department of Pediatrics. They spoke not only about the treatment of children but also about its development and historical milestones at Ostrava University Hospital. Radomira Hrdlickova from the Department of Hematology and Oncology focused on changes in adult hemophilia treatment and highlighted the advantages of pharmacokinetics.

In the second block of lectures, Anna Kissova from the Department of Internal Hematology and Oncology discussed the challenges of raising children in families with hemophilia. Those interested in psychological counseling can contact her at any time.

In the physiotherapy section, Drahomira Polcarova from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Ostrava University Hospital and Marie Katzerova from the Department of Pediatric Physiotherapy at Brno University Hospital took the floor. They informed attendees not only about rehabilitation options at Ostrava University Hospital but also about rehabilitation in general. The last lecture was given by Romana Ocelikova from the Home Care Agency, who offered the services of nurses to help manage difficulties with home treatment. The association, in cooperation with Baxter, will publish on its website a list of all home care agencies that have already completed hemophilia training, so that those interested know whom to contact in their region.

The topics often sparked lively discussion. Experts answered questions, and any further private inquiries were addressed throughout the day.

During the afternoon, participants could visit a social worker, attend individual physiotherapy, or use the saltwater pool reserved exclusively for us. We were surprised by how few participants took advantage of the opportunity for individual consultation with the highly qualified physiotherapists - only about five. There was no interest in the "ball technique" course either. It is a shame, as the physiotherapists were there solely for us and such an opportunity may not come again soon. One did not even have to exercise - they could simply chat and seek advice.

After the closing, participants did not immediately scatter but exchanged a few words or discussed the benefits of the workshop. One participant noted that essentially the same people attend the association's gatherings, even though the hemophilia community is many times larger.

We are glad that we have the opportunity to meet not only one another but also medical staff outside the office, where there is more room for questions and better mutual understanding. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Baxter, thanks to whom the workshop could take place, the association representatives for organizing, the physicians, physiotherapists, and other specialists. But above all, we thank all the participants - the hemophilia patients - for coming.

It would certainly be worthwhile to bring your own suggestions for future workshop content and pass them to the association representatives. Then such meetings will be even more beneficial.

Jakub Mican and Sona Kohlerova