At the present time preparations are underway for participate in a pilot trial to determine the ability of hydroxyurea to prevent stroke, the Hip Coring Project to determine if surgical intervention can prevent progression of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, the second phase of the STOP trial to determine the duration of transfusion needed to prevent stroke, the utilization of partial chimerism bone marrow transplantation in sickle cell disease and the ability of hydroxyurea administration begun prior to the age of two to prevent the development of organ damage. Education Education is provided through lectures given in a variety of forums. Dr. Mack and the nurses present lectures to a number of the schools in the community. Doctors Mack, Pegelow and Harrington present lectures to medical and nursing groups in the Miami area as well as to audiences in Broward and Palm Beach counties. They are also involved in medical student, pediatric and internal medicine residency training.
Patient education is provided in the clinic and at the bedside to both children and their parents.
A newsletter is prepared several times during the year to provide description and discussion of topics important to the patient population. A number of pamphlets have been prepared by center staff or purchased to provide supplemental education. A calendar was prepared for 1999 and another is in preparation for 2000 that offers educational vignettes along with a means to improve compliance with penicillin prophylaxis or hydroxyurea administration. Finally, a video has been prepared which covers topics important to patients and families. This will be dubbed in Spanish and Haitian Creole to maximize its value and copies will be provided free of charge to the families using the Center's facilities.