Working to Improve Sickle Cell Healthcare (WISCH)
Two programs—the Sickle Cell Disease Newborn Screening Program (SCDNBSP) and the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program (SCDTDP)—aimed at improving screening and follow-up for those who have tested positive for sickle cell disease and trait, and improving care across the lifespan.
Who
The SCDNBSP involved six teams comprised of federally qualified community health centers and other primary care sites, comprehensive sickle cell treatment centers and community-based organizations. The SCDTDP consisted of nine teams comprised of community centers, doctors, sickle cell departments, emergency room coordinators, parents and patients.
Our Role
Facilitated a Breakthrough Series learning collaborative to apply quality improvement methodology to sickle cell disease care and education in a variety of settings. Led the development of expert-reviewed quality measures for sickle cell disease (e.g. acute care measures). We also served as the National Coordinating Center for SCDTDP and the National Coordinating and Evaluation Center for SCDNBSP. In these roles, we collected, monitored and distributed best practice data and findings, identified protocols for the treatment of sickle cell disease and related complications, and identified and disseminated educational materials related to sickle cell disease.
Funder
The project was funded by HRSA and in partnership with the Boston Medical Center and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.
Other Information
SCDNBSP: June 2011 to May 2015. SCDTDP: September 2010 to September 2014.
Project Impact
External Resources
State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
List of PQCs funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Power of PQCs
Video showing the impact that PQCs have on the communities they serve. Produced by the NNPQC.
PQCs in the News
Articles in news outlets covering state PQCs, their activities, and the people that work in the collaboratives.
Patient Safety Bundles
From the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. PSBs are collections of evidence-informed best practices that address clinically specific conditions in pregnant and postpartum people. The NNPQC helps provide TA and support to PQCs in adopting the core AIM Perinatal Mental Health Bundle.
Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
The CDC’s landing page for PQCs, including helpful infographics, videos, and links to help explain what PQCs are, how they work, and stories, learnings, and publications that have come out of the state PQCs.
Related Content
Resources produced by the Working to Improve Sickle Cell Healthcare (WISCH) project or on related topics
Meet Our Team
“In our deep organizational work to move along the Equity Systems Continuum from a Savior-Designed System to an Equity-Empowered System, we acknowledge the power of action. The potential is limitless for today’s commitments to improve the systems in which health care and public health professionals work and families receive care.”
