Children and adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) often require care in the emergency department (ED) of hospitals and clinics for health issues related to SCD. The ED may be a patient’s only option for health care when symptoms, such as pain crises, cannot be managed at home or when a patient does not have access to a healthcare provider who specializes in treating SCD. The Sickle Cell Data Collection (SCDC) program found that in California, people with SCD seek care in the ED an average of three times a year from their late teens to their late 50s.
Tips for ED Health Providers
• Take complaints of pain from patients with SCD seriously and treat promptly with appropriate fluids and pain medication.
• Work with the SCD team at your hospital or clinic to develop individualized care plans for patients with SCD, especially those with frequent ED use. When possible, make these plans available in the electronic medical record.
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