Embedding a primary care provider in sickle cell teams improves sickle cell care
GIST
by Sherraine Della-Moretta, Rina Li Welkie, Nives Quaye, Kristina Landes, Regina D. Crawford, Payal Desai, Robert M.
Cronin Adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience fragmented access to primary and preventive care, which leads to poor adherence to general and SCD‑specific clinical practice guidelines. To address this gap, we implemented an embedded primary care model where a board‑certified internist/pediatric primary care provider (PCP) was embedded as a full member of the adult SCD care team, attending operational and educational meetings and practicing alongside hematologists in a comprehensive SCD clinic.
Our primary aim was to test the hypothesis that an embedded primary care model was associated with improved guideline‑based preventive care and changes in acute healthcare utilization (e.g., emergency room visits and hospitalizations). We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults with SCD seen at a single tertiary care center between July 2020 and June 2025.
Of the 388 adults with SCD seen at the center, 174 received care from the embedded PCP.
Clinical Editorial
Summary
PLOS ONE (Medicine) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 25 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Embedding a primary care provider in sickle cell teams improves sickle cell care.
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