Comprehensive Care for Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease

Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition that affects the production of red blood cells and can cause severe pain, organ damage, and shortened life expectancy. Despite advances in medical treatment, individuals with SCD often face significant challenges in accessing comprehensive, integrated care.

Let’s Create Together Foundation is committed to addressing these challenges and improving the lives of individuals with Sickle cell disease (SCD) by establishing a comprehensive care program that includes primary care, specialized care, mental health services, sickle cell trait testing and genetic counseling, social work services, and education on disease management.

This proposal outlines our plans for implementing this program and the support we need from the National Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center Grant Program to succeed.

Objectives

• Provide primary care, specialized care, and mental health services to individuals with Sickle cell disease (SCD): The dedicated Sickle cell disease (SCD) clinics in partnership with Let’s Create Together Foundation will be staffed by primary care providers, specialists, mental health professionals, and social workers with expertise in managing Sickle cell disease (SCD). These professionals will work together to provide comprehensive care to individuals with Sickle cell disease (SCD), including regular check-ups, management of SCD-related conditions, and support for mental health and well-being.
• Offer sickle cell trait testing and genetic counseling to individuals with Sickle cell disease (SCD) and their families: The SCD clinics will offer sickle cell trait testing and genetic counseling to individuals with SCD and their families. This will help individuals understand their risk for Sickle cell disease (SCD) and make informed decisions about their health and the health of their families.
• Provide social work services to support patients and caregivers in managing the physical and emotional impacts of SCD: Social workers at the SCD clinics will provide support to patients and caregivers in managing the physical and emotional impacts of SCD. This may include assistance with coordinating care, managing stress and anxiety, and connecting patients and caregivers with community resources.
• Educate patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers about SCD and its management: The SCD clinics will provide education to patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers about SCD and its management.
• Support individuals with SCD in navigating health insurance coverage and accessing transportation to treatment centers: The SCD clinics will provide support to individuals with SCD in navigating health insurance coverage and accessing transportation to treatment centers. This may include assistance with filling out insurance forms, advocating for coverage and coordinating with community organizations to provide transportation.

Methodology

Let’s Create Together Foundation will apply the following:

• Identify dedicated clinics for individuals with SCD: Let’s Create Together will establish a partnership with dedicated clinics for individuals with SCD, which will be staffed by primary care providers, specialists, mental health professionals, and social workers with expertise in managing SCD. The clinics will offer a range of services, including primary care, specialized care, mental health services, sickle cell trait testing and genetic counseling, social work support, and education on disease management.
• Staff the clinics with professionals with expertise in managing SCD: The dedicated SCD clinics at Let’s Create Together will be staffed by primary care providers, specialists, mental health professionals, and social workers with expertise in managing SCD. These professionals will work together to provide comprehensive care to individuals with SCD, including regular check-ups, management of SCD-related conditions, and support for mental health and well-being.
• Offer a range of services at the clinics: The dedicated SCD clinics in partnership with Let’s Create Together Foundation will offer a range of services, including primary care, specialized care, mental health services, sickle cell trait testing and genetic counseling, social work support, and education on disease management. These services will be tailored to the individual needs of each patient and will help ensure that individuals with SCD receive the comprehensive, integrated care they need.
• Work with healthcare providers, insurers, and community organizations: Let’s Create Together Foundation and partners will work with healthcare providers, insurers, and community organizations to ensure that individuals with SCD have access to the care they need and can navigate the healthcare system effectively. This may include coordinating with other healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive appropriate care, advocating for coverage with insurance companies, and connecting patients with community resources.

Expected Outcomes

• Collaborative care: The dedicated SCD clinics in partnership with Let’s Create Together will bring together primary care providers, specialists, mental health professionals, and social workers to provide comprehensive, integrated care to individuals with SCD. By working together and sharing information, these professionals will be able to better manage the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients and improve their quality of life.
• Patient education: The SCD clinics will provide education to patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers about SCD and its management. This will help patients and caregivers understand their condition and how to manage it, and will also increase awareness of SCD among healthcare providers and the general public.
• Community outreach: Let’s Create Together Foundation will work with community organizations to support individuals with Sickle cell disease (SCD) in navigating the healthcare system and accessing transportation to treatment centers. By building relationships with these organizations and working together, we can ensure that patients have the support they need to access care and manage their condition.
• Advocacy: The SCD clinics will advocate for individuals with SCD to ensure that they receive the care they need and have access to appropriate resources. This may include advocating for coverage with insurance companies, working with community organizations to provide transportation and connecting patients with other resources.

Budget

• Personnel costs: $250,000 per year
• Clinics operating costs: $100,000 per year
• Transportation and insurance support: $50,000 per year
• Total: $400,000 per year

Personnel costs: These costs include salaries, benefits, and training for primary care providers, specialists, mental health professionals, and social workers who will be working in the dedicated SCD clinics in partnership with Let’s Create Together Foundation.

Personnel costs: $250,000 per year

Salaries: $200,000 per year
Benefits: $30,000 per year
Training: $20,000 per year

Clinics operating costs: These costs include expenses related to running the SCD clinic, such as rent, utilities, supplies, and equipment.

Clinics operating costs: $100,000 per year

• • Rent: $50,000 per year
  • Utilities: $20,000 per year
  • Supplies: $25,000 per year
  • Equipment: $5,000 per year

Transportation and insurance support: These costs cover expenses related to supporting individuals with SCD in accessing transportation to treatment centers and navigating health insurance coverage. This may include providing transportation vouchers or coordinating with community organizations to provide transportation, as well as providing assistance with filling out insurance forms and advocating for coverage.

Transportation and insurance support: $50,000 per year

• • Transportation vouchers: $25,000 per year
  • Coordination with community organizations: $10,000 per year
  • Insurance support: $15,000 per year

Total: The total budget for the comprehensive care program for individuals with Sickle cell disease (SCD) is $400,000 per year.

Marketing strategy

• Develop marketing materials: Let’s Create Together Foundation will Create brochures, flyers, and other materials that describe the services offered at the SCD clinics and explain how the clinics can help individuals with SCD. These materials will be designed to appeal to patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers and should be easy to understand.
• Use social media and online platforms: Use social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote the SCD clinics and its services. We plan to use our amazing website and blog to provide more information about the clinics and to keep patients and caregivers informed about updates and events.
• Reach out to healthcare providers: Let’s Create Together Foundation local partner healthcare providers, such as primary care doctors and specialists, will be introduced to the SCD clinics and explain how the clinics can help their patients. We plan offer to provide information or training to help providers understand the needs of individuals with SCD and how to manage their care.
• Partner with community organizations: Identify local community organizations that serve individuals with SCD or have an interest in supporting individuals with SCD. Partner with these organizations to promote the SCD clinics and its services and to refer patients to the clinics.
• Host events and workshops: Host events and workshops to educate the community about SCD and the services offered at the SCD clinics. These events could be held at the clinics or at community centers and could include presentations, panel discussions, and other interactive activities.

Organization structure

• Clinic staff: The dedicated SCD clinics will need to be staffed by primary care providers, specialists, mental health professionals, and social workers with expertise in managing SCD. These professionals will work together to provide comprehensive, integrated care to patients and will need to be organized in a way that allows them to collaborate effectively.
• Management and leadership: The SCD clinic swill need strong leadership and management to ensure that the program is run effectively and efficiently. This may include a clinics director, manager, or other leadership roles to oversee operations and make strategic decisions.
• Support staff: In addition to clinical staff, the SCD clinics may need support staff to handle administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, billing, and managing records. These staff members will need to be organized in a way that allows them to support the clinical staff and ensure that the clinics runs smoothly.
• Partners and stakeholders: The SCD clinics will likely need to work with a range of partners and stakeholders, including healthcare providers, insurers, community organizations, and patients and caregivers. It will be important to establish clear roles and responsibilities for these partners and stakeholders and to create mechanisms for communication and collaboration.

Conclusion

Let’s Create Together Foundation is committed to improving the lives of individuals with SCD by providing comprehensive, integrated care that addresses their physical, emotional, and social needs. We believe this program will make a significant difference in the lives of individuals with SCD and their families.

We look forward to working with the National Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Center Grant Program to bring this critical initiative to fruition.