Roseland Hospital opens delayed sickle-cell clinic on Chicago’s South Side

Chicago's South Side Residents Now Have Access to Long-Awaited Sickle Cell Treatment Clinic at Roseland Community Hospital

After six years of initial projections, Chicago's Roseland Community Hospital has finally opened its long-awaited sickle-cell treatment clinic on the city's South Side. The clinic, located on the hospital's fourth floor, offers a range of medical services specifically tailored to address the needs of patients with sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is a blood disorder that affects red blood cells and causes excruciating pain and organ damage. It disproportionately affects African Americans, who often struggle to access timely care. According to the CDC Foundation, there is a severe shortage of physicians trained to treat sickle-cell patients, particularly adults. This results in lengthy waits for patients seeking medical attention, leading to unnecessary emergency department visits.

Roseland Community Hospital's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Khurram Khan, hailed the clinic as a much-needed resource for the South Side community. "This is not just a clinic; it's a lifeline," he said. The clinic will provide immediate care to patients experiencing sickle-cell pain crises, reducing the need for emergency department visits and improving follow-up care.

The clinic offers various treatments, including hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions, chelation therapy, comprehensive patient education, and support. Patients aged 16 and older can access these services, which will be staffed by board-certified hematologist-oncologist Dr. Mahoud Mahafzah.

However, the clinic's development was not without its challenges. The initial projected launch date of 2019 was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the hospital faced difficulties in recruiting key medical staff, including a specialist in sickle-cell disease.

According to Khan, being discharged from an emergency department is not the same as being discharged from a specialized clinic like this one. Patients receive proper medication and care plans, which is essential for managing the complex needs of sickle cell patients. The clinic's opening marks a significant step forward in addressing the healthcare disparities faced by African Americans on Chicago's South Side.

This is such an awesome development! Having access to specialized sickle-cell treatment is gonna be a game changer for people living on the South Side of Chicago . It's crazy how something like this can take 6 whole years to come together, but it's amazing that Roseland Community Hospital has finally made it happen . The fact that patients will have access to hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions... it's all so comprehensive and life-saving . I'm just glad that Dr. Khurram Khan and the team are working tirelessly to make sure these patients get the care they need ASAP . It's not about being discharged from an ER; it's about getting proper treatment and care in a specialized clinic, which is exactly what this new clinic offers . This is a huge step forward for healthcare disparities in Chicago, and I'm so here for it !

finally something good for the south side, i was worried they'd never get access to proper care sickle cell disease is no joke, my cousin had it and he went through hell... at least now they got a specialized clinic roseland community hospital is really stepping up their game i'm not surprised there were delays though, covid messed with everything it's crazy how some communities still don't get the same care as others but for real, this clinic could be lifesavers

man i'm glad they finally got that sickle-cell treatment clinic up and running at Roseland Community Hospital on the south side . it's about time we see some real change for these folks who've been struggling with this disease for far too long. six years of delays is way too long, covid shouldn't be an excuse for not getting stuff done . i mean, you got the docs trained to handle sickle-cell patients now, so hopefully we can start seeing some better outcomes . it's a lifeline, literally, as dr khurram khan said . these patients deserve access to proper care and treatment without having to wait in emergency rooms for hours on end . let's hope this clinic makes a real difference in the community

just heard about this new clinic ! finally someone is doing something to help all those people suffering from sickle-cell disease it's so unfair that they have to wait so long for care anyway, i'm super happy that roseland community hospital is stepping up and opening this clinic it'll make a huge difference in the lives of people on the south side especially those who are struggling to access timely medical attention and now they can get proper hydration therapy, iv pain management, blood transfusions... all that stuff gotta give props to dr. khurram khan for making this happen

I'm so hyped about this new clinic! they're finally tackling the sickle-cell treatment gap in Chicago's South Side it's crazy how long it took to get here, but I guess 6 years is a big deal what's even crazier is that it was originally projected for 2019 and got delayed due to COVID anyway, now they've got a specialized clinic with trained staff who'll provide hydration therapy, IV pain management, blood transfusions... the works it's not just about treating sickle-cell patients, but also educating them on how to manage their condition this is a huge win for the community

seriously can't believe it took 6 whole years to open this clinic... I mean, I know the pandemic threw everyone for a loop, but still . I'm glad it's finally here though, because I've been literally living vicariously through all those patients stuck in ERs with sickle cell pain crises . And let's give props to Dr. Khan and his team for making this happen... it's not just a clinic, it's like, a lifeline as he said . But honestly, I'm sure the real heroes are the patients who get to actually receive proper care now

This is amazing news, but I've got some doubts... Six years ago, they were supposed to open this clinic, and now it's finally here? That's a lot of delays! And what about all the patients who might have died in the meantime waiting for help? It's not like they can just "wait" for healthcare anymore. The fact that there's a shortage of doctors trained to treat sickle-cell patients is a huge concern, and I hope this clinic is equipped to handle it... And what about long-term care? This clinic is great, but are the community resources in place to support patients after they leave?

I'm so happy to see that finally something concrete is happening for those struggling with sickle cell disease in Chicago's South Side . It's about time we address the systemic issues that make it hard for people of color to get timely care . The fact that this clinic is finally open and offering a range of medical services tailored specifically to their needs is a massive step forward . And let's not forget the staffing challenges they faced, that's just on top of all the other hurdles they had to overcome . It'll be interesting to see how it plays out in the long run but for now, let's celebrate this lifeline being extended to those who need it most

idk about this new sickle-cell treatment clinic at Roseland Community Hospital ... it's about time, but i'm still skeptical about how effective it'll be in the long run . six years of delays due to covid and staff recruitment issues doesn't exactly fill me with confidence . what's gonna stop patients from just flooding into the clinic when they're feeling unwell? won't that lead to even more emergency dept visits? also, i'm curious about the qualifications of dr. mahafzah - is he really an expert in sickle-cell disease? can we trust that this clinic's got everything under control?

I'm so relieved that this clinic is finally open its doors . It's heartbreaking to think about people suffering from sickle-cell disease and not having access to proper care for years . I can only imagine how scary it must be to experience those excruciating pain episodes . But now, there's hope . Roseland Community Hospital is doing a great job by providing specialized care and support . It's amazing that they're not just treating the symptoms but addressing the root cause of the disease . I'm sending all my love and positivity to the community on Chicago's South Side

This is amazing news! 6 years ago, who could've imagined that Roseland Community Hospital would finally open up its own sickle-cell treatment clinic? It's about time we have access to specialized care for those affected by this disease . The fact that it's located on the South Side means patients won't have to travel far to get help . I'm so grateful for Dr. Khurram Khan and his team for making this happen . This clinic is a game-changer for the community! #SickleCellAwareness #ChicagoHeals #CommunityFirst

omg can't believe it finally took 6 years to open this sickle-cell treatment clinic in chicago! its like, weve been waiting for ages to get proper care and now roseland community hospital is stepping up the game with this amazing new clinic . Dr khan said its not just a clinic but a lifeline which i 100% agree lol because when you have sickle-cell disease it feels like your whole world is crumbling down around you . at last now patients on the south side can get the hydration therapy, iv pain management, blood transfusions and all that jazz its about time we get some real healthcare solutions in chicago instead of just emergency room visits all day erryday . thanks roseland community hospital for being a beacon of hope

I mean, what's next? A cure for sickle-cell disease? Sounds too good to be true . Just think about it, a whole hospital floor dedicated to one specific disease. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they're trying to tackle this issue, but have we considered the cost? I know the city is always looking for ways to cut costs, but what about the staff salaries? They had trouble recruiting doctors in the first place... how's that going to change now? And what about other medical issues on the South Side? Are they going to get left behind? It's like we're prioritizing one problem over others. Not trying to be negative, just saying it looks like a lot of money and resources are being poured into one specific area .

man... south side chicago still got more problems than solutions sickle cell treatment clinic finally opened but its like 6 yrs late covid19 pandemic caused delays and hospital struggled to find docs trained for this anyway, patients might get better hydration therapy and pain management but what about follow-up care? hospital says patients get proper meds and care plans but we all know thats not always the case these ppl been suffering 4 yrs already its like a drop in the bucket

so this new sickle-cell treatment clinic at Roseland Community Hospital is finally happening after 6 years of promises? I'm skeptical about the timeline, was it really just pushed back due to COVID or were there other factors at play? how many patients actually had access to these services beforehand and what's the wait time for new patients now? shouldn't we be seeing more transparency on the clinic's patient cap and emergency department referral rates? I also wonder if this is just a PR move or does the hospital have a solid plan in place to sustain this clinic long-term?