Memorial Sickle Adolescent Program
Transitioning to Adult Care
As a teen with sickle cell disease, your transition to adulthood includes learning how to manage your special medical needs. Memorial Sickle Cell Day Hospital offers leading-edge treatment for acute and chronic sickle cell syndromes, as well as guidance and support to help you transition smoothly into adult care.
The Adolescent Program at Memorial Sickle Cell Day Hospital, for patients age 16 and older, teaches you how to handle the physical aspects of sickle cell disease, as well as cope with any emotional stress you may experience. With our assistance, you can begin to direct your own care and take responsibility for your daily health requirements, including pain management, nutrition, exercise and rest. The Day Hospital also is your permanent “medical home” where you can continue treatment throughout adulthood.
Advanced Services, Compassionate Care and Research
Our expert staff of hematologists, nurses and support personnel specializes in sickle cell disease and offers some of the latest treatment advances. This highly trained team works in partnership with you, your physician and your family to help manage and relieve pain. Further, you will learn strategies to self-manage your condition to avoid acute, painful crises and other complications of sickle cell syndromes. We actively participate in sickle cell disease clinical research. Ask us how to get involved.
Benefits of Our Adolescent Program:
- Age-appropriate care and counseling in a quiet, comfortable setting
- Collaboration between Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital physicians and Memorial adult care physicians who specialize in sickle cell disease and its treatment
- Prompt, aggressive treatment for acute pain crises in an average of five hours, with the added benefit of avoiding or reducing hospital admission
- Tracking of a patient’s growth, development and pain history to provide highly individualized care
- Access to a Broward County Public Schools teacher during treatment or hospitalization
- Smooth transition from pediatric to adult care
Memorial Sickle Cell Day Hospital at Memorial Regional Hospital is the first program of its kind in the nation to receive “Disease-Specific Certification” from the Joint Commission.
For additional information or to make an appointment, call the Sickle Cell Disease Information Line at Memorial Regional Hospital at (954) 265-6945 or (800) 388-5192.
To find a Memorial physician who is committed to putting the patient first, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS . We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.