ADM Brett Giroir, MD: Mobilizing a Response to Sickle Cell

In part 2 of an interview with HCPLive®, US Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Brett Giroir, MD, discussed in greater depth federal efforts to coordinate a more unified sickle cell disease response.

For example, he referenced a recent sickle cell report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Sciences.

The report put forth an examination of “health outcomes, genetic implications, and societal factors associated with SCD and sickle cell trait.” Furthermore, it laid out the serious complications associated with sickle cell disease as well as current guidelines and best practices for patient care.

And finally, the report described various federal, state, and local programs related to the treatment of sickle cell disease.

“This is really a comprehensive plan that outlines how we are going to fix this disease,” Giroir said.

He also touted the numerous educational programs geared towards clinicians that have been implemented across the country.

Furthermore, exemptions from the rigorous guides of opioid prescription were given to clinicians treating this patient population—which is especially prone to signficant pain crises.

“We’ve given a lot of people hope,” Girior said. “We’ve shown them how to mobilize their passions; because they have a lot of passion there, but passion without direction or mobilization is not going to yield results.”

Watch Part I of the interview here.