
Blake McGee, PhD, MPH, RN
Department Chair, Prelicensure Nursing | Associate Professor Augusta University, College of Nursing
- Augusta GA
Blake McGee studies the impacts of federal and state policy choices on economically or socially marginalized people.
Social
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Unit Commendation from the U.S. Public Health Service
2023
Alice S. Hersh Scholarship Alternate
2017
AcademyHealth
Sigma Theta Tau
2017
Education
Emory University
Ph.D.
Nursing Science
2018
Emory University
B.S.
Nursing
2013
Columbia University
MPH
Public Health
2007
Affiliations
- American Heart Association
- Georgia Nurses Association
- AcademyHealth
- American Nurses Association
Links
Articles
Changes in acute care use among people with sickle cell disease after adoption of a prescription drug monitoring program
Blood Advances2025
Many states require prescribers to check a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) database before prescribing controlled substances, which may affect access and health outcomes for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our study objective was to evaluate acute care trends before and after PDMP implementation among people with SCD. We carried out a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 13 698 individuals with confirmed or probable SCD in the Georgia Sickle Cell Data Collection program from 2010 to 2019.
Self-reported pain levels for emergency department visits associated with sickle cell disease in the United States
Blood Advances2024
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited rare blood disorders that affects an estimated 100 000 individuals in the United States. The hallmark symptom of SCD is acute and chronic pain caused by vaso-occlusion owing to deoxygenated and sickled red blood cells.1 Acute pain episodes in SCD are frequently managed at home but also result in high levels of emergency department (ED) utilization.2,3 On average, ∼200 000 ED visits occur annually by individuals with SCD, with pain being the most common reason for ED utilization.4 Given the importance of the ED in providing acute care to persons living with SCD, we aim to describe self-reported pain levels in the ED. Specifically, we provide nationally representative estimates of the number and percentage of ED visits made across pain levels and compare self-reported pain between visits associated with SCD compared with the general patient population in the United States.
Racial/ethnic differences in associations between Medicaid expansion and causes and costs of readmission after acute ischemic stroke
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities2024
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the relative frequency of leading causes and total associated costs of readmission after acute ischemic stroke changed with Medicaid expansion, and how these changes differed by racial/ethnic group. We used a difference-in-differences approach to compare changes in the relative frequency of leading causes of unplanned 30-day readmission and to examine changes in the costs associated with unplanned readmission between expansion states (AR, MD, NM, and WA) and non-expansion states (FL and GA).
Characteristics of emergency department visits made by individuals with sickle cell disease in the United States, 1999–2020
AJPM Focus2024
Individuals living with sickle cell disease experience high levels of morbidity that result in frequent utilization of the emergency department. The objective of this study was to provide updated national estimates of emergency department utilization associated with sickle cell disease in the U.S.
Nurses leading the way: Insights from the 2023 AcademyHealth Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues annual meeting
Journal of Nursing Regulation2023
With more than 5.5 million registered nurses and licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses in the United States and its territories, the nursing profession plays a crucial role in U.S. healthcare delivery (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2023). Nursing health services research (HSR) is essential for strengthening healthcare systems and delivery (Jones & Mark, 2005). For nearly 20 years, the AcademyHealth Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues (IRGNI) has been contributing to this important effort. First established by Buerhaus and colleagues in the 1990s, IRGNI continues to support HSR that strives to improve nursing practice, workforce, and care delivery (Squires et al., 2019).