Sickle Cell Disease: Considerations for Acute Pain Management in the Hematology-Oncology Ambulatory Setting

Owing to the lack of specialized care and the unpredictable nature of acute pain episodes in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD), emergency departments have been largely used to provide care for these patients. The lack of specialized care for patients with SCD portends higher healthcare costs and lower health-related quality of life. Although study findings have shown that using multiple models for SCD care is feasible and cost-effective, nurses' awareness of evidence-based guidelines and care models for acute pain management in ambulatory settings is lacking.