Physical Therapist participates in Physical Therapy Working Group for National Bleeding Disorders Foundation

Held recently in National Harbor, Maryland, the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation’s annual Bleeding Disorders Conference brought together individuals affected by inheritable blood and bleeding disorders, healthcare professionals and industry experts, including Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital physical therapist Kristen Benya, PT, DPT, who served as the northeast regional representative on the Physical Therapy Working group at the event.

Benya says, “My role was to help establish the educational tract. I was also able to attend the conference and network with physical therapists from all over the country.”

The conference covered a wide array of topics, including emerging treatments, research breakthroughs, mental health support, access to care and advocacy strategies. Benya says one of the most impactful sessions for her was one that focused on pain management. “We wanted speakers who would add to our toolkit—speakers who would share knowledge that we can take back to our own clinics to better care for our patients,” she says.  “There was a nice talk on pain management in patients with coagulation disorders and our role as physical therapists. Not only was it fascinating, but I walked away with ideas I could use with my patients right away.”

Benya has been interested in patients with bleeding disorders since being asked to join the Boston Hemophilia Center when it took up residence here at BWFH in 2017. In addition to her role as Senior Physical Therapist in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Department, Benya sees patients every Tuesday in the adult hemophilia clinic as part of a comprehensive team that also includes hematologist and Chief of Medicine Nathan Connell, MD, MPH, a nurse practitioner and a social worker.

“As a physical therapist in the outpatient clinic, I typically do an evaluation, develop a plan of care and see my patients on their way after three to six months. In the hemophilia clinic, I get to see them change over their lifespan and hit their long-term goals,” she says. “It’s a pleasure to go up there every Tuesday. I love the close communication and team-based approach to healthcare that we have established. We are able to have clinical conversations and make decisions together as a care team. If there is a question mark, usually one of us has the specialty skills or knowledge to help come up with a solution right there in the moment.”

To learn more about the Boston Hemophilia Center at BWFH, click here.

Published 9/14/23