Initial Evaluation
The initial evaluation process begins with a referral from your hematologist or oncologist to a BMT Physician. After this referral, the Stanford BMT Program New Patient Coordinator will call you with an appointment date and time.
The visit for the initial evaluation is designed to provide you with information about BMT. Various factors such as your age, prior treatment, overall health and disease status are discussed. These factors determine if you are eligible for BMT, and ultimately the type of transplant most appropriate for you.
This initial clinic visit usually takes between 2-4 hours. During your initial visit you will meet a BMT Nurse Coordinator. The BMT Physician will take a detailed medical history, perform a physical examination and recommend the various treatment options for you.
You will see a BMT Social Worker either during your initial visit, or at a later date. The BMT Social Worker will conduct a psychosocial assessment and discuss the non-medical aspects of the transplant process including your support system, caregivers, housing, work issues, disability and leave programs, and generally how well you are adjusting to your illness and treatment.
After your initial visit your history will later be presented to the entire BMT team. The team will work together and determine – based on your disease, history and other factors – the BEST treatment option we can offer you. In some cases, this means that your treatment plan may change from what was presented to you on your first visit.
If you proceed with transplantation your BMT Nurse Coordinator will facilitate your pre-transplant testing, establish your treatment schedule and help coordinate your care.
To assist the BMT Physician in determining your treatment options it is essential that you work with your hematologist or oncologist’s office staff to have the following sent to us prior to your evaluation:
- Medical records describing your diagnosis and prior treatment
- Biopsy slides, tissue blocks and pathology reports
- Radiology studies like CT and PET scans, MRI and ultrasounds
Please be sure to bring your healthcare insurance and prescription plan cards with you to your initial evaluation. You should also bring a list of your allergies and the medications you are taking. During the visit you are given a lot of information and we encourage you to bring a family member or friend to help you remember what was discussed. You may also want to take notes or tape record the visit. If English is not your primary language please tell us this when scheduling your visit and we will make every attempt to have a translator for your preferred language.
What to Expect of the Transplant Process
Many questions arise when you and your family decide to proceed with a BMT. The chart above is a general outline of what you can expect during your transplant experience. Insurance authorization for your transplant will be requested once your treatment has been scheduled. During the outpatient portion of the treatment process, complications can develop requiring hospital admission.
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