Erin McIlrath
Keeping track of patients A through K
If you are a post-transplant patient and your last name begins with a letter from A to K, then you probably know Erin McIlrath. She certainly knows you.
As one of two program coordinators in the clinical Long-Term Follow-Up program, she is responsible for scheduling your post-transplant follow-up appointments at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "We assist in writing the orders and ensuring that all of the necessary records are in the chart so when the practitioners see our patients, they have everything they need," McIlrath said. The patients — many of whom travel long distances to Seattle for their follow-up visits — appreciate that efficiency, too.
The program coordinators are the support staff for the nine-member Clinical LTFU Program. In addition to scheduling post-transplant appointments, they gather test results, patient records, help route specimens to the laboratories, act as patient advocates and answer the phones. "We make things run smoothly," said McIlrath.
The LTFU follows about 3,500 patients who had bone-marrow or stem-cell transplants at Fred Hutchinson or the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. About a dozen patients per week arrive for their follow-up visit, which may consist of yearly follow-up testing or graft-vs.-host disease clinics. Another 30 to 40 patients and physicians call during any given day with various questions about their follow-up care.
McIlrath joined LTFU in July 2002 after graduating from Western Washington University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in biology and anthropology.
"I knew that I always wanted to work in health care, so I decided to explore the medical field," she said. A friend recommended Fred Hutchinson. "I started applying for multiple jobs here. I really lucked out because this is the perfect position for me.
"I work with great people. I have exposure to every clinician type every day — a nurse, physician's assistant, nurse practitioner and a physician — because they are part of the LTFU staff. Since it is a small department, we have a lot of flexibility and we really depend on each other."
Her job has elicited a strong desire to work more directly with patients. To that end, McIlrath plans to earn a physician's assistant certificate and master's degree so she can take another step along her career journey.
1100 Fairview Ave. N. PO Box 19024 Seattle, WA 98109
©2009 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, a nonprofit organization.
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy.
