Navigating Pain with Color: A Sickle Cell Pain Care Plan-Navigating Pain with Color: A Sickle Cell Pain Care Plan

Navigating Pain with Color: A Sickle Cell Pain Care Plan

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Courtney Trace and Isabella DeFrancisco presented a nurse-driven, color-coded sickle cell care plan designed to help families manage pain more confidently at home and know when to escalate care. They described how frequent emergency visits often stemmed from uncertainty, not just pain severity. Their solution uses a simple visual “blue, green, yellow, red” system: prevention, early intervention, escalating pain, and severe pain/ED referral. The plan also includes warning signs such as fever, chest pain, breathing trouble, and stroke symptoms, plus clear instructions for urgent action. A key feature is the patient/family navigator, who personalizes the plan, uses teach-back, and builds trust across inpatient, outpatient, and home settings. The team reported improved family confidence, better education engagement, and early signs of more appropriate ED use. They plan to expand the tool through Epic and share it with schools and community caregivers.

Keywords

sickle cell care plan

color-coded pain management

family navigator

teach-back education

emergency warning signs

home escalation guidance