Kudos to Stephanie Ibemere, assistant professor, and her entire team for the submission of her Programs to Increase Diversity Among Individuals Engaged in Health-Related Research (PRIDE)-Functional and Translational Genomics of Blood Disorders (FTG) proposal entitled: “Assessing Advanced Practice Provider Sickle Cell Disease Management Knowledge, Skills, and Practice." This proposal requests funding for a one year project period with a start date of December 1, 2021.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a complex, chronic condition characterized by chronic vaso-occlusive episodes, chronic, hemolytic anemia, and reperfusion injury which often leads to irreversible multi-organ damage and premature mortality. Consistent access to outpatient SCD specialists coupled with primary care based chronic disease management can: 1. reduce the frequency of acute complications and 2. improve overall health and well-being for individuals living with SCD. However, the decline in physician supply both in primary and specialty care (especially in benign hematology, where most SCD experts practice) has shifted many healthcare services, including benign hematology, to the advanced practice provider (APP). Considering the decline in the physician workforce is predicted to continue in primary care and benign hematology, there is a pressing need to evaluate and build capacity for SCD management in APPs. Gauging APP knowledge and access to clinical decision support which fits their scope of practice represents a critical barrier to the expansion of SCD management. Our short-term goal is to perform a pre-evaluation of APP knowledge, skills, practice, barriers, and facilitators related to outpatient SCD management.

Aim 1: Describe APP general knowledge, skills, practices, barriers, facilitators, and support preferences in the care of individuals with SCD.