Background: Specialty care for children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be disrupted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our DISPLACE consortium includes 28 pediatric SCD centers.
Methods: In May 2020, we surveyed the consortium on the impact of COVID-19 on their practice focusing on transcranial Doppler ultrasound, chronic red cell transfusions, telehealth, and COVID-19 testing.
Observation: Twenty-four DISPLACE providers completed the survey. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound screening decreased to 67% but chronic red cell transfusions remained at 96%. Most investigators (92%) used telehealth and 40% of providers had patients test positive for COVID-19.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected routine care and necessitated changes in practice in SCD.
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