Clinical Services

All newborn infants born in Tennessee are screened for the presence of abnormal hemoglobin.  The Meharry Sickle Cell Center is responsible for confirmatory testing of those infants found to have abnormal hemoglobin in the State of Tennessee. Meharry Sickle Cell Center is one of four centers in Tennessee responsible for the newborn screening follow-up, which includes clinical follow-up, genetic counseling and health education.  While parents may choose their pediatrician, the initial confirmatory testing and initial education remains our responsibility.  The Sickle Cell Center is open Monday through Friday for testing, counseling and education.

When a new infant is identified, team members begin the educational process with the parents through a combination of telephone contacts, home visits and clinic appointments. Our goal is to assure that the parents understand their child's type of sickle cell disease and the important role parents play in their child's treatment. For the older child, education is provided to both the child, and family, with the goal of increasing the child's mastery of the disease, encouraging each member of the family to participate in the team effort to prevent and treat disease related illnesses. Included in this process, is the education of teachers and school nurses in the effects of sickle cell disease for the child in school.

Medical care is provided for affected adults and adolescents in the facilities of Metro Nashville General Hospital.  These services include care provided for hospital admissions and clinic visits each year for adolescent and adult patients.  Sickle cell clinic sessions are held on Monday afternoons. 

For more general information about sickle cell disease or to make an appointment to see the newborn screening nurse, call (615) 327-6763.  For an appointment to see Dr. Wolff or the nurse practitioner call (615) 341-4383.