Where
This is an online event.Seize The Day: Improving Care for SCD in the ED and Beyond
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a multi-system, progressive disorder that affects approximately 100,000 Americans, primarily of African and Hispanic descent. Patients with SCD often require care in emergency departments (EDs) for a myriad of potentially life-threatening conditions. Most commonly seek treatment for pain due to vaso-occlusive episodes.
Many patients with SCD, especially adults, do not have outpatient providers to guide treatment for their disease, which in turn increases their reliance on the ED. Improving the care of patients with SCD requires a systems approach, focused on both the care provided in the ED as well as post-acute care visits care coordination and follow-up.
The goal of this session will be to define optimal care processes for SCD, explore ways to enhance connections with outpatient providers (especially when there is an unmet need), and ongoing work to disseminate best practices for the management of this important and potentially life-threatening rare disease.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the impact of sickle cell disease on the health care system
- Articulate the need for improved care for SCD in the emergency department
- Discuss different methods that have been used to improve ED care for children and adults with SCD presenting with painful vaso-occlusive episodes.
- Highlight recent/on-going work to enhance connections to outpatient providers (especially when there is an unmet need) and reduce ED care for high utilizers
Guest Speaker
Patricia L. Kavanagh, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Boston University School of Medicine