Transition Program

Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care

In an effort to make a smooth and successful transition from pediatric to adult care, Children’s Sickle Cell staff can help parents and patients to connect with adult care providers. You may already have an adult primary care provider, either of your choosing or one assigned to you by your insurance plan. If you would like guidance on how to select an adult care provider, please contact Children’s Sickle Cell staff at 412-692-5055.

For specialized adult sickle cell care, services available in the greater Pittsburgh area are as follows:

UPMC Adult Sickle Cell Program

UPMC’s Adult Sickle Cell Program provides ongoing medical and psychosocial care coordination for individuals age 20 or older. The program is managed by a specialized treatment team consisting of a hematologist, a social worker, a clinical nurse and a case manager. Ongoing medical management and treatment is provided in an outpatient clinic, which is held every Wednesday afternoon in the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center located at 5155 Centre Ave., across from UPMC Shadyside. Urgent medical needs are handled at UPMC Presbyterian's Emergency Room located at 200 Lothrop St. The program also facilitates a monthly Sickle Cell Advocacy Team (SCAT) meeting at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center for patients and family members.

For additional information about UPMC’s Adult Sickle Cell Program, call 412-692-2534 or visit www.upmc.com.

Sickle Cell Society

The Sickle Cell Society, Inc., provides medical care for people living with sickle cell disease on a weekly basis in their clinic at 7643 Frankstown Road in Homewood, in Pittsburgh’s East End. Medical Director Betty Agbede, MD, an internal medicine physician, can be reached at 412-681-3060.

For emergency care and hospital admissions, patients are referred to UPMC Presbyterian's Emergency Room located at 200 Lothrop St. Hospitalization, if necessary, would be referred to the general medicine floor at UPMC Presbyterian.