The Georgia Health Policy Center is proud to release its second in a series of Stories of Impact.
Since 2010, the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) has been pioneering surveillance methods to identify people with sickle cell disease and maintaining a comprehensive dataset to better understand sickle cell–related diagnosis and health care use in the state. This data can help answer questions about access to and quality of care, as well as how these patterns vary by age, sex, geography, and health insurance.
GHPC partners with policymakers, providers, and community-based sickle cell disease organizations throughout Georgia so that this data can inform on-the-ground policy and practice improvements.
County-level data helped the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia target their efforts to educate primary care providers about sickle cell disease in areas of the state with known cases but a lack of specialty care. As a result, more than 600 providers have completed a training since 2018.
“I think the greatest impact this training has is a change in how individuals with sickle cell disease are treated when they show up,” says Jeanette Nu’Man, director of operations at the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia. “Trainees report not just a better understanding of the course of the disease, but a heightened sensitivity about the severity of the pain associated with sickle disease and how individuals may be managing it.”
GHPC has directly impacted the lives of people in local communities across the country and the globe. Through its research, evaluations, policy analysis, technical assistance, convenings, and trainings the center has lived its mission to advance health and well-being in thousands of local communities. GHPC’s Stories of Impact series highlights the scope and impact of the center’swork, the amazing partners we work with, and the people who are touched by the work of our dedicated staff.
Read the full story of impact here.