What should you do when your patient indicates yes to a question about hemophilia on the medical history?

What should you do when your patient indicates yes to a question about hemophilia on the medical history?

• A. Call the patient's primary care provider to obtain the most recent INR results.
• B. Proceed with treatment and rely on the patient’s statement.
• C. Schedule the appointment without any follow-up.
• D. Prescribe anticoagulant therapy.

Answer: (C)

When a patient reports a history of hemophilia, the most important point is that this signals a real risk of excessive bleeding during any procedure, so you must verify the current status and plan with a clinician who manages the condition before proceeding. Do not rely solely on the patient’s statement or proceed as if nothing is different. Instead, pause and contact the patient’s hematologist or primary care provider to confirm details such as the type and severity of hemophilia, current treatment plan (including factor replacement or desmopressin), inhibitor status if known, and what perioperative hemostatic precautions are recommended. Depending on the procedure, you may need to defer it, reschedule, or arrange specific bleeding-control measures and factor coverage. Note that INR testing is not the appropriate step here, since hemophilia involves clotting factor deficiencies rather than anticoagulation managed by INR. The correct approach is to obtain formal clearance and coordinate care to ensure patient safety before moving forward.

When a patient reports a history of hemophilia, the most important point is that this signals a real risk of excessive bleeding during any procedure, so you must verify the current status and plan with a clinician who manages the condition before proceeding. Do not rely solely on the patient’s statement or proceed as if nothing is different. Instead, pause and contact the patient’s hematologist or primary care provider to confirm details such as the type and severity of hemophilia, current treatment plan (including factor replacement or desmopressin), inhibitor status if known, and what perioperative hemostatic precautions are recommended. Depending on the procedure, you may need to defer it, reschedule, or arrange specific bleeding-control measures and factor coverage. Note that INR testing is not the appropriate step here, since hemophilia involves clotting factor deficiencies rather than anticoagulation managed by INR. The correct approach is to obtain formal clearance and coordinate care to ensure patient safety before moving forward.