Research and Data Insights
Public health professionals contribute to sickle cell disease management through surveillance and monitoring. Public health efforts focus on strengthening surveillance of disease occurrence and health outcomes.
Community health workers play a vital role in supporting sickle cell disease patients through Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC). This established a population health model for managing approximately 3,000 individuals with sickle cell disease in the state, focusing on improving care coordination between primary care providers, specialists, and emergency departments.
- Source: Health Care Organization and Use
Myth vs. Fact
Myth: Public health efforts cannot reduce gaps in sickle cell disease care.
Fact: Public health initiatives are key to addressing gaps in sickle cell disease care by improving access to resources and promoting care that is both socially and culturally appropriate.
For example:
- Community health workers and public health professionals often share the same backgrounds with the communities they serve, which fosters trust and improves communication.
- Advocacy efforts by organizations ensure that policymakers prioritize funding for programs like the CDC’s Sickle Cell Data Collection (SCDC) program, which tracks health outcomes and informs resource allocation.
Resource: Community Health Workers as Support for Sickle Cell Care