The Sickle Cell Medical Home is an important mechanism for uniting many segments for compassionate holistic medical care including physical, behavioral (psychological and social) and oral health in an accessible community-based setting. Sickle Cell Disease is a debilitating complex chronic condition that does not just cause anemia. Adolescents, young adults and adults who live with sickle cell disease can overtime develop medical and non-medical problems such as: blindness, stroke, pulmonary hypertension, chronic deterioration of their shoulder and hip bones, kidney problems, iron overload, leg ulcers, chronic pain, depression, educational failure and unemployment. The complexity of providing high quality care for people suffering with sickle cell anemia intends to combat the barriers that prevent a person’s access to high quality health care. Our program aims to provide patient-centered care that is continuous, coordinated and culturally effective. In order to achieve this, we have an expert team of healthcare providers (medical director, physician extender, social worker and care coordinator) who provide routine and holistic preventative care individualized to each patients’ needs. We are also privileged to have an affiliation with Christiana Care and a partnership with Delaware State University, St. Francis Hospital and world renown Sickle Cell Program Director, Sophie Lanzkron, MD at John Hopkins University Hospital in Maryland. Dr. Lanzkron provides world expert consultation as needed for our clients. The Sickle Cell Specialty Center aims to provide “One Stop Shop” where persons living with sickle cell anemia can establish our program as their Medical Home. Our goal is to improve the overall quality of pain management and access to ongoing care and disease modifying therapies in and out of the hospital. According to the Abell Report, “the lack of comprehensive medical and social services for adults compromises their health and quality of life .…. [and] leads to worse health outcomes and increased health-care costs.” To find out more information about the new community-based sickle cell program call (302) 762-0200 or visit our website www.tovacommunityhealth.org.
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