2021 SAEMF Research Training Grant - $300,000

"Emergency Department Focused Assessment and Treatment in a Triage Chair (ED FAST-Chair)”

Inadequate pain control is one of the most common reasons for a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD) to be hospitalized after presenting to the emergency department (ED) in an acute vaso-occlusive crisis. Delays in treatment for an acute VOC is correlated with more severe pain, longer lengths of stay in the ED, and ultimately hospital admission. Guideline based management of many chronic diseases is a well- documented approach for special populations. In the SCD patient population, a guideline-based approach to treatment has the potential to decrease time to opioid analgesia and may impact patients’ perceptions of biased care delivery. The primary aim of this project is to develop a focused assessment for sickle cell crisis in a triage chair for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED FAST-Chair) using guideline adherent therapy.