Beaufort Memorial Hospital Teams Up with the Medical University of South Carolina to Open Sickle Cell Clinic
January 24, 2021Dr. Julie Kanter poses with clinic patient Nicholas Black, clinic staff nurse Annemarie Gault, NP, and director of nursing supervision & float pool Janice Bristow, RN.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) has teamed up with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) to open a sickle cell clinic, offering Lowcountry patients with the inherited blood disorder better access to expert care.
The clinic, located on the second floor of the main hospital building, is part of the (SC)2 South Carolina sickle cell network led by Dr. Julie Kanter, director of sickle cell research at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health).
Serving as a disease-specific medical home for sickle cell patients, the clinic will offer ongoing disease-modifying therapy with individualized treatment plans based on the latest evidence-based practices. Therapies will include hydroxyurea management, transfusion therapy
and
acute pain management as well as additional research opportunities.
“Sickle cell is a chronic disease that requires a sustained, comprehensive approach to care,” Kanter said. “The goal of the clinic is to provide patients with access to a specialist to gain better control of the disease and improve their quality of life.”
As many as 4,500 people in South Carolina – the vast majority of them of African-American descent – are afflicted with sickle cell disease, a group of disorders that causes red blood cells to distort into a sickle shape and break down prematurely, leading to anemia, shortness of breath and fatigue.
The hemoglobin inside the red blood cell carries oxygen. In sickle cell disease, the hemoglobin is damaged causing it to twist and break down. When these “
sickled
cells” clump together and block small blood vessels, it can trigger a severe attack called a sickle cell crisis. During these painful episodes, tissues and organs are deprived of oxygen-rich blood, which can lead to serious complications, including organ damage, heart failure
and
stroke.
Because there are not enough physicians trained in sickle cell disease management, patients are often forced to rely on urgent care treatment. In most South Carolina hospitals, it’s the No. 1 cause of 30-day readmissions.
At the new clinic, Dr. Kanter will make monthly in-person visits to evaluate patients, establish treatment plans and monitor their medications. She will be available for acute issues via telehealth technology. An (SC)2 social worker also will be available to assist patients with psychosocial, health navigation and financial issues.
BMH certified nurse practitioner Annemarie Gierling Gault will staff the clinic five days a week, providing care to patients in between Kanter’s visits.
“I can assess their health status and determine what measures need to be taken to manage their pain and treat their condition to prevent the onset of a crisis,” Gierling Gault said. “If they’re having a crisis they can come to the clinic rather than the ER.”
Beaufort Memorial’s sickle cell clinic will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday starting March 8. View more information or call (843) 522-5015 to make an appointment.