To meet your needs

Emergencies
For medical emergency assistance call the Duke operator at (919) 684-8111 to request the adult hematologist on call. The Duke sickle cell center has on service hematologists who are on call 24 hours a day seven days a week. For emergencies requiring an ambulance to drive you to a hospital call 911 or the phone number serviced by your local area.

You may also go directly to the Emergency Department on the first floor of Duke North. On arrival to the Emergency Department, you should tell the receptionist that you are a patient followed a the Duke Sickle Cell Clinic. They will then notify the hematologist on call.

The Duke Emergency Department works closely with the sickle cell center population to provide excellent care in timely fashion. The emergency department staff meets monthly with the clinical staff of the Duke Sickle Cell Center to ensure that you will get the most forward thinking care.

Common emergencies which demand immediate attention:
- Fever greater than 101.5
- Acute pain, not relieved by pain medications, fluids, and bed
rest
- Increased lethargy or tiredness
- Vomiting and dehydration
- Neurologic symptoms, such as seizures, weakness or
numbness in arms and legs, severe headaches, marked
dizziness, or visual changes
- Acute chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Priapism lasting longer than normal for you (discuss
specific guidelines with your doctor)

Follow up: All Emergency Department visits should be followed by a clinic visit. This will assist in providing appropriate follow-up, including detecting and treating related complications. Immediately following discharge from the Emergency Department, please call the Sickle Cell Office to schedule an appointment.

Urgent Needs
For urgent needs you may call the office (919) 684-6464 during clinic hours
(Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.). Every effort will be made to see you at the clinic.
Also, patients are occasionally seen for an urgent need on Fridays (8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.).