• Matthew Lyon, Lashon Sturgis, Richard Lottenberg, Marin E Gibson, Jonathan Eck, Abdullah Kutlar, and Robert W Gibson.
• Center for Ultrasound Education, Academic Programs and Research, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA.
• Ann Emerg Med. 2020 Sep 1; 76 (3S): S12-S20.

Study ObjectiveThis was a prospective, pre-post, 13-year observational study documenting the multiyear implementation of an observation unit sickle cell pathway for patients with uncomplicated vaso-occlusive events.MethodsThe sickle cell pathway begins with rapid triage to identify patients with uncomplicated vaso-occlusive events for immediate transfer to the observation unit and initiation of patient-controlled analgesia followed by repeated evaluations of pain and identification of other complications. Data were abstracted from the electronic medical record or observation unit database. The sickle cell pathway was initiated in April 2006. Major revisions of it were carried out in June 2009 (physician evaluation occurs in sickle cell pathway and only patient-controlled analgesia administration of medications) and October 2010 (multidisciplinary management and individual dosing).ResultsAnnual ED visits ranged between 287 and 528. The preimplementation hospital admission rate was 33% (123/368), 3-day return rate 16% (60/368), and 30-day return rate 67% (248/368). Refinements to the sickle cell pathway have resulted in a decrease in admission rate to 20% (258/1276); 3-day return rate, to 3.6% (46/1,276); and 30-day return rate, to 41% (525/1,276) for the past 3 years.ConclusionThe use of a sickle cell pathway for the treatment of uncomplicated vaso-occlusive events has been effective in providing rapid treatment and reducing hospital admissions. However, it was not only the intervention and its refinement that made the sickle cell pathway successful. With the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, it was discerned that outer setting factors of organizational commitment to the care of patients with SCD, inner setting factors of learning climate and leadership engagement, individuals, and process contributed to the success of the sickle cell pathway.Copyright © 2020 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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