A leader in education, outreach, treatment and patient support, Brookdale University Hospital’s multidisciplinary sickle cell disease program is one of 17 programs in the country to have received a much contended grant from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in the amount of $185,000 a year for three years is to further enhance care, education and outreach for sickle cell disease and treatment. This is the fourth cycle of this grant and Brookdale, 1 Brookdale Plaza, has been a recipient with every cycle.
“We are so very honored that HRSA has awarded Brookdale’s Sickle Cell Program this coveted grant as it will enable us to continue our mission of providing coordinated, comprehensive medical care, education and psychosocial support to enhance the quality of life of patients with sickle cell disease and their families,” said Dr. Kusum Viswanathan, director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and director of the program.
Brookdale’s Sickle Cell program is the only program in the country to have been awarded a $10,000 Grant from the Genetic Alliance Foundation for their Community Centered Family Health History Program. The grant will be used to incorporate the Genetic Alliance’s online “Does It Run In the Family?” toolkit into the comprehensive system of the program and distributed through outreach with the purpose of increasing sickle cell disease and awareness.
In recognition of its success in providing not only medical care but compassionate and comprehensive care to its patients, the Sickle Cell Program received a donation in the amount of $1,200 from Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a family organization that provides cultural, social, civic and recreational activities that stimulate and expand the mind to enhance life. The Jack and Jill Associates group is comprised of parents whose children formerly participated and graduated from Jack & Jill of America, Inc.
To ensure the best in continuity of care for the pediatric patients as they become young adults, an Adult Sickle Cell Program has been added to the existing program to provide a seamless transition. The adult program will provide comprehensive sickle cell care and management, where patients will receive health maintenance on a regular basis, proper evaluation, precise pain management and be seen by a specialized sickle cell hematologist.
To schedule an appointment or for additional information on the Adult Program, call 718-240-5077, 718-240-5904 or go to www.sicklecellbrooklyn.org
