Overview
The project describes the implementation of evidence-based practices to improve the health of individuals with sickle cell disease who receive care at Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS). Preliminary analyses show that individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have frequent acute care visits, often due to painful crises, and are often managed with high doses of full-agonist opioids with known long-term risks. Buprenorphine is a proven clinical treatment which is much safer in long-term use given its unique pharmacology. Evidence shows successful conversion of patients with SCD to buprenorphine for both acute and chronic pain with positive results, yet this modality is underutilized. Further, baseline optimization of other pain-management and disease modifying treatments are still needed.