A chronic illness, such as sickle cell disease, presents many challenges for patients and their families. That is why we provide a number of supportive services, including a monthly parent support group, assistance with school issues, a summer camp for patients who are 7 to 12 years old and many more.
Our multidisciplinary team plays an important role by helping patients and families understand their medical condition and by guiding them to helpful community resources.
The Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center program director, Punam Malik, MD, is known nationally, and even internationally, for her gene therapy research. She also is the Program Leader of the Hematology and Gene Therapy Program at the Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute.
Comprehensive Services
At the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, a team approach allows us to provide the most effective, coordinated care possible. Our medical services include:
- Prenatal diagnosis and counseling for hemoglobin disorders
- Coordination of newborn screening follow-up for hemoglobin disorders
- Comprehensive care for patients from birth through young adulthood
- Access to novel therapies through our partnership with the National Institutes of Health
- 24-hour emergency care through the Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department, with support from an on-call hematologist
- Extensive laboratory testing
Patients at the center benefit from the Day Hospital, where they can receive blood transfusions and other procedures. This facility provides the same high level of care and close observation available on an inpatient basis, but allows patients and families to return home at night. Amenities such as DVD players and internet access help pass the time.