A look at deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism: Building a better tomorrow

Blood disorders affect millions of people each year in the United States, cutting across the boundaries of age, race, sex, and socioeconomic status. Men, women, and children of all backgrounds live with complications associated with these conditions, many of which are painful and potentially life-threatening. With proper preventive actions and early intervention, many of these disorders and their complications could, to a large extent, be eliminated. The Division of Blood Disorders (DBD), located within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, implements health promotion and wellness programs designed to prevent secondary complications in people with bleeding and clotting disorders. These programs are carried out in partnership with community-based organizations on the national and local level. There has been little awareness of the impact blood disorders have on public health, creating a need for additional content – both educational and impactful – to illustrate how these conditions affect lives. In May 2009, the DBD through a contract with Porter Novelli, created a series of digital stories to promote and brand the work of the division as well as illustrate the personal impact of blood disorders and help raise awareness of them as a public health concern. The three video shorts that were produced include: a branding video showcasing the work of the division, a video featuring people affected by Hemophilia, and a video featuring people who have been affected by DVT/PE.