ED-based protocols speed care to sickle cell patients, reduce repeat ED visits, and discharge admitted patients earlier.

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.