Managing Sickle Cell Disease in the ED: Point of Care Tool

• Negative ED experiences in the past may make them guarded or mistrustful.  • Pain can make anyone irritable, impatient, or upset. • Empathetic nonverbal communication is essential (eye contact, facial expressions, gestures). • Be patient when asking questions; it is often difficult to speak when in severe pain. • Assign an emergent priority ( e.g., ESI level 2). • Severe pain that cannot be managed in the waiting room. • High-risk situation that needs rapid evaluation for other serious complications. • Increase level of concern if the pain is not similar to prior episodes or new symptoms are present. • Patients with more than 3 admissions/years for sickle cell pain are at increased risk of death.   Abstract source