Broward Health Chris Evert Children’s Hospital Celebrates the Official Opening of Transitional Sickle Cell Treatment & Wellness Center

Broward Health Chris Evert Children’s Hospital recently celebrated the official opening of its Transitional Sickle Cell Day Treatment & Wellness Center.

Through a $249,861 grant from the Health Foundation of South Florida and a check presented by Broward County Mayor Josephus Eggelletion, Jr. for $175,000 from proceeds that were collected at the 2007 annual Mayor’s Gala, Broward Health established the center to improve the quality of life for teens and young adults living with sickle cell disease.

(Front row l-r) Rhonda A. Calhoun, Vice Chair, and Joseph Cobo, Treasurer, North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners; Frank Nask, President/CEO of Broward Health; Rebecca Stoll, Secretary, North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners; Alice Taylor, Chief Operating Officer, Broward General Medical Center; Jasmin Shirley, Vice President, Community Health Services, Broward Health; and Shelley Dagen, Immediate Past Chairman, Health Foundation of South Florida.
(Back row l-r) Rudolph Roskos, Medical Director, Chris Evert Children’s Hospital; Peter Wood, Vice President of Programs and Community Investments Health Foundation of South Florida; Rep. Oscar Braynon II, D-Miami Gardens.

Housed in the Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, the center is designed with a focus on sickle cell patients 18 and older to assist them as they leave their pediatrician and enter the world of adult care. It includes eight patient beds, a nutrition center, and an entertainment area for patients while they receive not only medical treatment for sickle cell crisis, but also obtain wellness care in order to avoid a crisis.

Once enrolled in the program, care is monitored and overseen by a case manager from Broward Health’s Community Health Services. By offering disease case management, wellness care and sickle cell treatment, the program will reduce emergency department visits, inpatient hospital stays and costs associated with treating the disease. To expedite care and decrease the severity of a crisis, patients are able to bypass the emergency department and go directly to the day center.