NELASCAF and MedicAlert
Pilot Program

Northeast Louisiana Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation (NELASCAF) and MedicAlert Foundation are collaborating on a pilot program to improve the experience for children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who seek emergency treatment for a sickle cell pain crisis.

About the pilot

Every participant in the pilot program will receive:

• MedicAlert Smart Medical ID Card with QR code
  • The QR code on the card links to your child’s MedicAlert health profile.
• Wearable MedicAlert ID bracelet with QR code
  
  • The bracelet also has a QR code that links to your child’s MedicAlert profile.
• 1 year Protection Plan
  • The membership plan includes a self-managed health profile that stores your child’s SCD pain plan, contact details for their hematologist and other providers, as well as vital health information such as allergies, other medical conditions, current medications, surgical history, emergency contacts, and more.
  • By scanning the QR code, emergency department (ED) personnel will have immediate access to your child’s health profile, including their SCD pain plan (if one is provided), as well as all the other important information in their record.  

There is no cost to participate. The ID Card, bracelet and protection plan are provided free of charge to every child enrolled in the program. 

Our goal is to validate that these tools make getting the help your child needs in a pain crisis easier and faster – for both your child and ED personnel. To measure that, you’ll provide pre- and post-pilot information on your child’s ED experiences, along with monthly check-ins. 

Please consider participating. With your help, we can establish tools that will benefit everyone living with sickle cell. If we prove the effectiveness of this approach, the goal for NELASCAF and MedicAlert Foundation is to seek funding to expand the program.

How to apply

See below for eligibility requirements for children/participants and their parent or guardian.

Eligibility requirements

To be admitted to the program, your child must:

• Have a confirmed sickle cell diagnosis
• Be age 4-17
• Live in one of the following parishes: Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, West Carroll

As a parent or guardian, you must agree to:

• Input your child’s medical information and SCD pain plan in your child’s MedicAlert digital health profile
• Always present your child’s MedicAlert Smart ID Card when you go to an ED for a pain crisis
• Complete a pre-pilot survey, post-ED visit survey, and post-pilot survey
• Consent to receive communications about the program, including a monthly email as well as a monthly text message (SMS) on your mobile phone 
• Be consistently responsive to program administrators
• Work jointly with NELASCAF & Ouachita Parish Health Unit to accomplish all steps required

Getting started

1. Complete the Application form below
2. Then, complete the Pre-Pilot Survey (link at bottom of this page)
3. Once both forms are received, a representative from MedicAlert will reach out to confirm your child’s participatio