Patients undergoing treatment though Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Bone Marrow Transplant Program are admitted to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for their patient care. There are many people helping with the patient's care. Together they make up the health care team. The patient and family members are also part of that team.
Transplant Physician Training
Transplantation is a team effort and the doctor who leads the team needs experience
and training in this specialty. One may want to ask for information about the
qualifications of the physician who heads the program, as well as about those
who are responsible for the daily medical care of patients, and about the availability
of specialists who can be called in to handle complications that may arise.
Every patient has an "attending physician." These physicians are staff members at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington Medicine, and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. They are very experienced in transplantation. In addition, the patient will have a primary physician who is the doctor who will give the patient the most direct care. These physicians are experts in this field and, in addition to patient care, they also convey their knowledge to other physicians seeking advanced training at the center.
Experienced Nursing Team
Nurses will be the coordinators of the patient's care during transplantation.
They should receive specialized training and ongoing education. One may wish
to ask about the expertise and training of the nursing staff.
At the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, registered nurses who are specially trained to care for transplant patients, staff both the outpatient clinic and the inpatient units. In addition to their special training, the nurses also participate in ongoing education. They are very knowledgeable about the transplant process and are a valuable resource for answers to patient or family questions.
Accessibility Of Medical And Nursing Services
Being able to get timely assistance when being treated as an outpatient is very
important. One should find out if evaluation and treatment of symptoms are available
24 hours a day and on weekends.
Transplant patient care and treatment is available 24 hours a day via the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The outpatient clinic is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Educational Support
More and more, family members and friends are needed to help with the patient's
care as an outpatient. What kind of education does the center offer to prepare
both the patient and their family members to manage care safely at home?
For transplant patients, the education program for the patient and their family caregivers consists of classes, individual instruction and reference materials. Classes are offered every week. They include classes that teach how to give and record medications, monitor and report symptoms, prevent infections, and operate an ambulatory pump used to give intravenous medications and fluids. Nutrition classes cover safety in food preparation and managing nutrition problems at home. Throughout the transplant process, a transition nurse will assist the patient and caregiver with home care planning.
Psychosocial Support
Transplantation is emotionally stressful and demanding. Patients, as well as
family members, are likely to need special support. The availability of services
such as support groups, counseling, and social workers is an important consideration.
The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance assigns a specific social worker to work with the patient throughout the transplant process. Social workers can provide individual support and counseling, crisis intervention and referrals to our team of psychologists and psychiatrists. The social worker can also assist with housing and school arrangements, airline letters for changes in flight plans and verification of the medical circumstances to an employer. The chaplain addresses spiritual concerns, provides support to the patient and family, and assists in locating local religious resources.
At the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, patients have access to support groups led by skilled facilitators from nursing, social work and pastoral care. Patients and family members have said that it is helpful to talk with other people who are going through similar experiences. It can be beneficial in gathering information, learning ways to cope, decreasing anxiety and gaining strength and support from others.
Nutritional Support
Therapies used during transplant affect nutritional status. Clinical
nutrition staff are
essential in making sure that the patients receive all the nutrients required.
Education on food selection, food safety, and managing nutrition problems at
home should be available.
At the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the clinical nutrition staff have one goal in mind: to make sure that the patient receives all the nutrients they need during and after transplant. The treatment team includes registered dietitians and dietetic technicians.
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