Sickle Cell Day Unit designed for adults to manage pain
By Chico Arenas
Broward Health’s Sickle Cell Day Unit is designed for adults to manage pain and improve quality of life. The program includes specialized case management, a nutrition center, medical monitoring, intervention and counseling services.
The Sickle Cell Day Unit opened its doors to pediatric patients in 2008 to provide continuity of care. In 2013 the new unit focuses on care for our adult patients. Care is provided in a calm and comfortable state-of-the-art environment with the latest therapies. A specialized team of experienced phlebotomists, compassionate nurses, nurse practitioners and board certified hematologists are ready to support you. The emphasis is on treating the patient and preventing the effects of the disease, in addition to managing pain in an outpatient setting. (Ancillary services such as nutrition, counseling, social services and stem cell transplant liaison available as needed).
After a patient is enrolled in the program, care is monitored and administered by a multi-disciplinary team of experts. The comprehensive services offered to patients through this program reduce emergency department visits, inpatient hospital stays and costs associated with treating the disease.
To expedite care and decrease the severity of a crisis, patients enrolled in the program will be able to bypass the emergency department and go directly to the day unit.
Additional services available through the Sickle Cell Day Unit include:
· Lab work with markers for severity of sickle cell disease
· Intravenous iron chelation therapy in select cases
· Blood transfusions
· Genetic counseling
· Psychological counseling as needed
· Social services on premises
· Patient support group
· Sickle cell education
· Stem cell transplant liaison for select cases
· Timely appointments with staff hematologists
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call (954) 712-6880.
