By Virginia Hilton
Community, city and state leaders recently celebrated the grand opening of the Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program.
Sentara Health and Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University joined forces to open the clinic and provide comprehensive medical care for sickle cell patients in Hampton Roads.
The program was designed to bring together specialists from the departments of medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation and psychiatry. Previously, adult patients had to travel to Richmond or North Carolina to receive comparable care.
“The Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program embodies our mission to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care,” said Alfred Abuhamad, MD, executive vice president of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and dean of Eastern Virginia Medical School. “We’re ensuring that patients receive holistic care tailored to their needs all in one place. And we’re making sure they have it closer to home.”
Organizers say the new clinic is a powerful testament to the impact that can be made when healthcare institutions join forces to address chronic illnesses like Sickle Cell Disease.
“Historically, across the nation, there has not been an equitable investment in sickle cell care compared to many other diseases that affect majority populations,” said Michael Hooper, MD, chief academic officer for Sentara Health. “We saw that as a discrepancy and we wanted to address it locally.”
As the director of the new program, Madeeha Deo, MD has seen firsthand the need for an integrated approach to managing sickle cell disease.
“Our patients often face complex and interconnected challenges that require care from multiple specialists,” said Dr. Madeeha Deo, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program. “Here, we’ve created a space where those specialists come together under one roof, collaborating to tailor care plans for each patient.”
Deo adds that they hope this will help prevent many critical trips to the emergency room when patients can’t wait any longer.
“This is not just about treating the disease; it’s about improving lives,” Deo said. “We are setting a new standard for care, and I look forward to the positive impact this program will have on our patients and their families.”
Learn more about the Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program online or make an appointment by calling (757) 446-8980.
The original article is available on Pulse.