Call System to Increase Compliance with Clinic Visits in Patients with a Diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease Pain

Paul A, Shaparin N and Dobson C

Published on: 2021-02-20

Abstract

In 2009, the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Centers (CSCC) that provided care for sickle cell disease patients were forced to discontinue services, because the National Institute of Health funding opportunities ceased causing significant changes in patients care. There was an increase in emergency department (ED) visits, and an increase in hospitalization. In an effort to maintain the successes of the Bronx Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center (BCSCC) before the closure, a call system was initiated.

A pre-post-test design was used to fully capture the effectiveness of the call system and its impact on clinic visits. Data was collected for hospital admissions, ED visits, and clinic visits. Subjects were instructed to call when they had no medications and before ED visits.

A convenience sample of 12 consented participant was obtained; n = 5 males, n = 7 females. The inclusion criteria include, diagnosis of sickle cell disease, hospital stay of eight per year, clinic appointments of two per year and ED visits of eight per year. As a result, 2.75 fewer ED visits, 1.25 more clinic visits: fewer hospital admissions -0.9167.

The need for continued research is warranted in an effort to improved health care with less inpatient visits. Increase compliance with outpatient specialty visits; medicine, hematology, pain and sickle cell.