Chicago's South Side Residents Now Have Access to Long-Awaited Sickle Cell Treatment Clinic at Roseland Community Hospital
After six years of initial projections, Chicago's Roseland Community Hospital has finally opened its long-awaited sickle-cell treatment clinic on the city's South Side. The clinic, located on the hospital's fourth floor, offers a range of medical services specifically tailored to address the needs of patients with sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that affects red blood cells and causes excruciating pain and organ damage. It disproportionately affects African Americans, who often struggle to access timely care. According to the CDC Foundation, there is a severe shortage of physicians trained to treat sickle-cell patients, particularly adults. This results in lengthy waits for patients seeking medical attention, leading to unnecessary emergency department visits.
Roseland Community Hospital's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Khurram Khan, hailed the clinic as a much-needed resource for the South Side community. "This is not just a clinic; it's a lifeline," he said. The clinic will provide immediate care to patients experiencing sickle-cell pain crises, reducing the need for emergency department visits and improving follow-up care.
The clinic offers various treatments, including hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions, chelation therapy, comprehensive patient education, and support. Patients aged 16 and older can access these services, which will be staffed by board-certified hematologist-oncologist Dr. Mahoud Mahafzah.
However, the clinic's development was not without its challenges. The initial projected launch date of 2019 was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the hospital faced difficulties in recruiting key medical staff, including a specialist in sickle-cell disease.
According to Khan, being discharged from an emergency department is not the same as being discharged from a specialized clinic like this one. Patients receive proper medication and care plans, which is essential for managing the complex needs of sickle cell patients. The clinic's opening marks a significant step forward in addressing the healthcare disparities faced by African Americans on Chicago's South Side.
After six years of initial projections, Chicago's Roseland Community Hospital has finally opened its long-awaited sickle-cell treatment clinic on the city's South Side. The clinic, located on the hospital's fourth floor, offers a range of medical services specifically tailored to address the needs of patients with sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that affects red blood cells and causes excruciating pain and organ damage. It disproportionately affects African Americans, who often struggle to access timely care. According to the CDC Foundation, there is a severe shortage of physicians trained to treat sickle-cell patients, particularly adults. This results in lengthy waits for patients seeking medical attention, leading to unnecessary emergency department visits.
Roseland Community Hospital's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Khurram Khan, hailed the clinic as a much-needed resource for the South Side community. "This is not just a clinic; it's a lifeline," he said. The clinic will provide immediate care to patients experiencing sickle-cell pain crises, reducing the need for emergency department visits and improving follow-up care.
The clinic offers various treatments, including hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions, chelation therapy, comprehensive patient education, and support. Patients aged 16 and older can access these services, which will be staffed by board-certified hematologist-oncologist Dr. Mahoud Mahafzah.
However, the clinic's development was not without its challenges. The initial projected launch date of 2019 was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the hospital faced difficulties in recruiting key medical staff, including a specialist in sickle-cell disease.
According to Khan, being discharged from an emergency department is not the same as being discharged from a specialized clinic like this one. Patients receive proper medication and care plans, which is essential for managing the complex needs of sickle cell patients. The clinic's opening marks a significant step forward in addressing the healthcare disparities faced by African Americans on Chicago's South Side.
This is such an awesome development! Having access to specialized sickle-cell treatment is gonna be a game changer for people living on the South Side of Chicago 
. It's crazy how something like this can take 6 whole years to come together, but it's amazing that Roseland Community Hospital has finally made it happen 
. The fact that patients will have access to hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions... it's all so comprehensive and life-saving 
. I'm just glad that Dr. Khurram Khan and the team are working tirelessly to make sure these patients get the care they need ASAP 
. It's not about being discharged from an ER; it's about getting proper treatment and care in a specialized clinic, which is exactly what this new clinic offers 
. This is a huge step forward for healthcare disparities in Chicago, and I'm so here for it 
!
finally something good for the south side, i was worried they'd never get access to proper care 
sickle cell disease is no joke, my cousin had it and he went through hell... at least now they got a specialized clinic 
roseland community hospital is really stepping up their game 
it's crazy how some communities still don't get the same care as others 
but for real, this clinic could be lifesavers 
. i mean, you got the docs trained to handle sickle-cell patients now, so hopefully we can start seeing some better outcomes 
. let's hope this clinic makes a real difference in the community 
! finally someone is doing something to help all those people suffering from sickle-cell disease 
it's so unfair that they have to wait so long for care 
anyway, i'm super happy that roseland community hospital is stepping up and opening this clinic 
especially those who are struggling to access timely medical attention 
and now they can get proper hydration therapy, iv pain management, blood transfusions... all that stuff 
gotta give props to dr. khurram khan for making this happen 
they're finally tackling the sickle-cell treatment gap in Chicago's South Side 
what's even crazier is that it was originally projected for 2019 
and got delayed due to COVID 
anyway, now they've got a specialized clinic with trained staff 
who'll provide hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions... the works 
this is a huge win for the community 
. I'm glad it's finally here though, because I've been literally living vicariously through all those patients stuck in ERs with sickle cell pain crises 
. And let's give props to Dr. Khan and his team for making this happen... it's not just a clinic, it's like, a lifeline as he said 
This is amazing news, but I've got some doubts... Six years ago, they were supposed to open this clinic, and now it's finally here? That's a lot of delays! 
And what about all the patients who might have died in the meantime waiting for help? 
I'm so happy to see that finally something concrete is happening for those struggling with sickle cell disease in Chicago's South Side 
. It's about time we address the systemic issues that make it hard for people of color to get timely care 
. The fact that this clinic is finally open and offering a range of medical services tailored specifically to their needs is a massive step forward 
. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out in the long run but for now, let's celebrate this lifeline being extended to those who need it most 
. six years of delays due to covid and staff recruitment issues doesn't exactly fill me with confidence 
. what's gonna stop patients from just flooding into the clinic when they're feeling unwell? won't that lead to even more emergency dept visits? 
can we trust that this clinic's got everything under control? 
. Roseland Community Hospital is doing a great job by providing specialized care and support 
. I'm so grateful for Dr. Khurram Khan and his team for making this happen 
. Dr khan said its not just a clinic but a lifeline which i 100% agree lol because when you have sickle-cell disease it feels like your whole world is crumbling down around you 
. at last now patients on the south side can get the hydration therapy, iv pain management, blood transfusions and all that jazz 
.
shouldn't we be seeing more transparency on the clinic's patient cap and emergency department referral rates?