Paula Tanabe, RN, PhD

Paula Tanabe, PhD, RN, MPH, FAEN, FAAN, is a Professor in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine and health services and clinical researcher. Dr. Tanabe’s program of research focuses on improving systems of healthcare and patient outcomes for persons with sickle cell disease. Dr. Tanabe has a strong focus on improving emergency department care for this population and has conducted many investigations in this area.

Dr. Tanabe currently has AHRQ funding to disseminate decision support tools to primary care and emergency department providers throughout North Carolina and portions of South Carolina. These tools were based upon the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of sickle cell disease. Dr. Tanabe is also the co-PI for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute “Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium, U01”.

Dr. Tanabe has conducted investigations aimed at improving pain management in the emergency department, with a strong focus on patients with sickle cell disease. Dr. Tanabe developed the Emergency Department Sickle Cell Assessment of Needs and Strengths (ED-SCANS), a decision support tool aimed at improving the quality of care provided to adults with sickle cell disease in the ED setting.