Practice Makes Perfect: Education in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 Americans and affects 250,000 births each year worldwide. Despite being a genetic hemoglobinopathy, SCD is a diffuse vascular disease and complications such as acute chest syndrome (ACS), sepsis and stroke are the most common causes of death. Many intensivists experience relative discomfort in managing SCD patients. We proposed to develop a protocol of simulation driven learning to increase education surrounding critical care complications of SCD. We piloted this protocol with Internal Medicine housestaff.