Transitioning to Adult Sickle Cell Disease Care

Many children with sickle cell disease receive treatment at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. But what happens when kids age out of pediatric services?

Fortunately, the transition to adult sickle cell disease care is seamless. This is due to the close partnership between Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and our colleagues at Memorial Healthcare System’s Sickle Cell Medical Home.

Young adult patients new to Memorial Healthcare System can expect a smooth continuation of sickle cell disease management. Memorial’s world-class team specializes in providing individualized, comprehensive care to patients ages 18 or older.

What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder. It causes some blood cells to form in the shape of crescent moons instead of their typical round shape. Unlike normal, flexible blood cells, sickle cells can be rigid and sticky. So, when they build up in veins and arteries, they can block normal blood flow.

These blockages can lead to a “sickle cell crisis,” which causes intense body pain. Patients in a sickle cell crisis might experience symptoms, including:

• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling week
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Trouble breathing
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that sickle cell disease affects roughly 100,000 Americans. More than 90 percent of patients with sickle cell disease are Black. And roughly three to nine percent are Hispanic or Latino.

Left untreated, sickle cell disease can lead to life-threatening complications like stroke or heart disease. Receiving timely, supportive care for sickle cell disease flare-ups is critical.

Seamless Disease Care Transition

When your teen with sickle cell disease reaches the age of 18, providers at Memorial’s Sickle Cell Medical Home will take over their care. The facility is conveniently located at 3700 Johnson Street in Hollywood, FL.

We make moving to adult care easy. We send all your medical records straight from Joe DiMaggio to your new doctors at Memorial. Our dedicated Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital transition team works one-on-one with teens and families. They answer any questions or concerns before and during the shift in care.

Your former pediatric care team will collaborate closely with your new, adult-focused providers to ensure a seamless transition. Once at Memorial, you will receive the same patient-focused, individualized sickle cell disease management you experienced as a pediatric patient. Memorial’s sickle cell specialists will work with you to manage your disease complications, including pain management during sickle cell crises.

Sickle Cell Disease Specialists

Memorial’s Sickle Cell Medical Home is one of the few targeted sickle cell-specific medical facilities in the U.S.

“At the Sickle Cell Medical Home, we deliver comprehensive care for all of our patients in a single, convenient location,” says Foluso Ogunsile, MD, the center’s medical director.

Providers at Sickle Cell Medical Home are experts in managing sickle cell disease symptoms and complications.

Here, you can expect to receive:

• Advanced sickle cell disease treatment
• Care in a quiet, comfortable setting
• Individualized support from our expert staff
• Prompt, aggressive treatment for acute pain
• Reduced hospital admissions thanks to accessible, focused care

“Our day hospital facility allows us to provide pain medications, IV fluids and other pain relief interventions. Patients experiencing a sickle cell crisis do not have to go to the emergency room,” Dr. Ogunsile says.

In addition to responding to sickle cell crises, the center’s staff is your support team in the long-term management of your condition.

“Our facility provides chronic management of patients’ sickle cell disease. We deliver hematological and primary care services in one building. It is truly a home for our patients,” says Dr. Ogunsile.

Memorial’s Sickle Cell Medical Home serves patients ages 18 and over throughout Florida. Call 954-265-1400 to learn more about our approach to sickle cell disease management.