Background
It is important to ensure access to hydroxyurea (HU) for patients with
sickle cell anemia (SCA) living in rural areas without easy access to
experts in sickle cell management. The UAB Pediatric Sickle Cell
program’s satellite clinics reduce the barrier of transportation to the
university-based clinic. However, as compared to the university clinic,
these satellite clinics do not offer immediate access to HU dosing
laboratory results. Therefore, a nurse clinician calls families with HU
dose adjustments after the completion of the clinic visit. This study
evaluated the impact of telehealth dosing adjustments on HU laboratory
and clinical response as compared to university-based patients.