Sickle Cell Center

Clinic Information

The Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Grady Health System is the world’s first 24-hour comprehensive primary care clinic for patients with sickle cell syndromes.

Services include:

• Routine health care by appointment
• Newborn screening and genetic counseling
• 24-hour acute care for adults age 18 and older
• Chronic transfusion services
• Pain management
• Leg ulcer and Hydrea clinics
• Transition clinic – to ease the transition from pediatric to adult services
• Patient counseling
• Sickle cell education and outreach

Clinic Location
Grady’s Sickle Cell Clinic is located on the ground floor of the main hospital building near the Clinic Building entrance on Pratt Street. Patients and visitors should park in the Butler Street parking garage located next to the hospital and enter the Clinic Building.

After hours, the Pratt Street clinic entrance is secured. However, you can enter the building after hours by using the intercom at the clinic entrance. Staff will buzz you into the clinic.

Acute Care
Acute Care is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require acute care, please come directly to the Sickle Cell Clinic. Trained Sickle Cell Clinic doctors and staff, the same staff you see during your routine appointments, will treat you. If this is an emergency, please call 911.  After hours use the Clinic Building entrance on Pratt Street.

Infusion Services
Transfusion services are located on the 10th Floor in the A corridor. The clinic recommends all type/cross work be performed two days prior to transfusion to ensure product is available. The Sickle Cell Clinic can assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my 16-year-old son be seen the sickle cell center?
Patients must be 18 years old to be seen in the Sickle Cell Center. To schedule an appointment, call Maureen Njoku at (404) 616-5992. Pediatric patients (those under age 18) can be seen at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding Children’s hospital located down the street from Grady.

Who will I see during my new patient visit?
Primary Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team for Sickle Cell adult patients from 18 years and older in the same center. Our goal is to keep the patient healthy, to prevent complications and to help the patient take charge of their disease. Our team of doctors, social workers, physician assistants, Clinical nurse specialists, nurses, technicians and staff provide primary care services such as timely registration, immunizations, developmental screening, psychiatric evaluations, social services and referrals for women’s health and eye examinations.

Who should I call for questions about the Georgia Newborn Screening Program?
Call JoAnn Beasley at (404) 616-5990 or Patricia Barber at (404) 616-4069 with questions regarding the Georgia Newborn Screening Program.

Will I have to wait a long time to be seen when I am in pain?
The 24-hour urgent/acute care center is available to all patients over age 18. The center is designed to fully evaluate sickle cell emergencies quickly and efficiently. The evaluation includes examination by doctors and physician assistants or nurse practitioners trained in sickle cell disease. Patients are seen quickly and the therapy includes I.V. hydration and the latest in pain therapy. Patients are allowed to rest in quiet and comfortable rooms with close observation by staff.

• Laboratory Services
• Pharmacy
• X-Ray
• Ultrasound
• Translation Services
• Social Services
• Financial Counseling
• Specialty Clinic (referral required)

Please bring these things with you:

• Your appointment slip, your insurance card and identification
• All of your medicine bottles
• Any papers or records from other doctors
• Any questions you have for your doctor. It is a good idea to write your questions down before you come.

Some same-day appointments are available. However, we recommend you call first.

Parking (Butler Parking Deck) is on Jesse Hill Jr. Drive and is attached to McDonalds. This is the only parking available in the area and is reserved exclusively for the Grady Health System campus. Click here for directions.

Parking costs $1 for each 20 minutes; up to a maximum of $5 per day.