title: ED-based protocols speed care to sickle cell patients, reduce repeat ED visits, and discharge admitted patients earlier.
abstract: Patients with sickle cell disease commonly experience episodes of extreme pain that prompt them to seek care in the ED. However, emergency providers sometimes mistake these patients as drug-seekers, delaying effective pain relief and often resulting in under-treatment that can prolong suffering and result in repeat visits. Experts recommend development of specialized sickle cell protocols that fast-track patients toward the care they need, and give patients some control over how much pain medication they need. Experts say ED-based sickle cell protocols can improve patient and provider satisfaction while also reducing repeat ED visits as well as length-of-stay when patients need to be admitted. New research suggests that ED use spikes as sickle patients reach adulthood. Experts say ED providers can play a role in helping these patients transition into effective primary care settings.
mesh_terms: D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010351:Patient Discharge; D026684:Personal Autonomy