Your Care Team
Our patient/family centered approach to care is designed to ensure that you receive excellent care, and that you, along with your family, play an active role in your treatment plan.
Your care team is made up of a group of professionals who specialize in stem cell transplantation. You will meet the care team members listed below throughout the course of your care.
In addition to the people you meet during your transplant, many others are working behind the scenes to contribute to the quality of your care.
Primary transplant physician
Your primary stem cell transplant physician directs and oversees your medical care. They will meet with you before and after your stem cell transplant and will work closely with the transplant attending physician who cares for you during the transplant period.
Transplant attending physician
While you are in the hospital, a transplant inpatient attending physician will oversee your care. This may be a different person than your primary transplant physician. After you leave the hospital, you will see your primary transplant physician for follow-up care.
Because Dana-Farber and BWH are teaching facilities, our physicians train the next-generation of medical professionals. This means that you may be examined by more than one clinician and may be asked some questions more than once. You have the right to refuse to be examined, observed, or treated by students or other staff, without jeopardizing access to psychiatric, psychological, or other medical care. These physicians will talk daily with one another to keep up to date on your treatment and ensure that you receive the best medical care.
A physician member of the team is available around the clock to ensure that you receive expert medical care.
Transplant physician assistant (inpatient)
For patients admitted to the hospital for transplant, a physician assistant (PA) in partnership with the inpatient attending transplant physician will be a part of your daily medical care. We have a dedicated team of transplant physician assistants who work exclusively on the stem cell transplant service to provide continuity of care for patients.
Transplant nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) (outpatient)
For patients receiving their transplant in the outpatient clinic, you will see an NP or PA who cares for all outpatient transplant patients. You will meet with them during your first infusion appointment and have regular visits with them during and after your outpatient transplant period.
For all patients, an NP or PA works closely with your primary transplant physician before and after transplant to manage your care, including treatment planning, complications, medications, supportive care, and education.
Transplant nurses
Transplant clinical coordinator
This team member works with you before transplant to schedule your pre-transplant tests, ensuring they are completed on time. You may call your clinical coordinator with any non-medical questions you have.
Clinical social worker
A clinical social worker can provide counseling and emotional support to you and your family to help you cope with concerns or issues that may arise before, during, or after transplant as well as refer you to resources at Dana-Farber or in the community. Clinical social work services are available to you for additional support upon request or by referral during and after your transplant.
Nurse (RN) care coordinator (inpatient)
RN care coordinators help to map out your care, including discharge from the hospital (for inpatient transplant) and your recovery at home. They will work with you and your family to make plans for your transition home after transplant.
Resource specialists
Financial counselor
The financial counselor’s role is to help explain your health insurance coverage as it relates to your transplant. They may also be able to direct you to sources of financial assistance outside of Dana-Farber and BWH.
Donor search coordinator
If you need a donor transplant, a donor search coordinator will provide support with identifying a donor. Dana-Farber is accredited by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) to coordinate unrelated donor searches for patients who do not have a related donor. The coordinator works as a liaison between your care team and the NMDP (as well as other unrelated donor and cord blood registries) to organize the search for a suitable donor or cord blood unit.
Oral medicine specialist
A member of our oral medicine team is available by request or referral to address any oral health care issues during or after transplant.
Pharmacist
A pharmacist works with your transplant team to ensure that you receive the right drug therapy, ensuring you get the right dosing to avoid or minimize drug interactions and side effects. Because transplant medications are important and can be complicated, a pharmacist is a valuable resource to answer your questions about the medications you are taking.
Radiation oncologist
If you need radiation therapy as part of your treatment plan, a radiation oncologist will meet with you for a consultation and to discuss your care.
Psychiatrist
Consultation with a psychiatrist is available through Dana-Farber’s Psychosocial Oncology program by request or referral from your transplant team.
Dietitian
A dietitian will explain why it is important for you to follow a special transplant diet, review dietary restrictions as you choose meals as well as provide assistance with choosing items that fit within any allergies, intolerances, or preferences you have. If you have nutrition questions, please ask your physician or nurse for a referral to the dietitian.
Physical therapist (PT)
Given the potential for physical decline and weakness during transplant, your physician may ask that you be evaluated by a physical therapist. Consultation with a physical therapist is available by request or referral from your care team.
Chaplain
Chaplains can offer religious and/or spiritual support for you and your family. Chaplains from different faiths (including Interfaith, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Roman Catholic, and Protestant) are available to meet with you before, during, or after transplant. They can also provide a blessing of your stem cells on the day of infusion. To contact a chaplain, call 617-732-7480 for BWH, 617-632-3908 for Dana-Farber, or speak to a member of your care team.
Primary care doctor and local subspecialist(s)
In addition to the Dana-Farber and BWH care teams, your local primary care doctor and/or local sub-specialist(s) will continue to play an important role in your treatment. We will keep your local physician(s) informed of your transplant treatment and will collaborate with them for follow-up care closer to home when possible.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers for more information.
Your care team is made up of a group of professionals who specialize in stem cell transplantation. You will meet the care team members listed below throughout the course of your care.
In addition to the people you meet during your transplant, many others are working behind the scenes to contribute to the quality of your care.
Primary transplant physician
Your primary stem cell transplant physician directs and oversees your medical care. They will meet with you before and after your stem cell transplant and will work closely with the transplant attending physician who cares for you during the transplant period.
Transplant attending physician
While you are in the hospital, a transplant inpatient attending physician will oversee your care. This may be a different person than your primary transplant physician. After you leave the hospital, you will see your primary transplant physician for follow-up care.
Because Dana-Farber and BWH are teaching facilities, our physicians train the next-generation of medical professionals. This means that you may be examined by more than one clinician and may be asked some questions more than once. You have the right to refuse to be examined, observed, or treated by students or other staff, without jeopardizing access to psychiatric, psychological, or other medical care. These physicians will talk daily with one another to keep up to date on your treatment and ensure that you receive the best medical care.
A physician member of the team is available around the clock to ensure that you receive expert medical care.
Transplant physician assistant (inpatient)
For patients admitted to the hospital for transplant, a physician assistant (PA) in partnership with the inpatient attending transplant physician will be a part of your daily medical care. We have a dedicated team of transplant physician assistants who work exclusively on the stem cell transplant service to provide continuity of care for patients.
Transplant nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA) (outpatient)
For patients receiving their transplant in the outpatient clinic, you will see an NP or PA who cares for all outpatient transplant patients. You will meet with them during your first infusion appointment and have regular visits with them during and after your outpatient transplant period.
For all patients, an NP or PA works closely with your primary transplant physician before and after transplant to manage your care, including treatment planning, complications, medications, supportive care, and education.
Transplant nurses
- Transplant oncology nurse navigator (ONN) – Your oncology nurse navigator works collaboratively with your physician and other team members to coordinate and oversee your treatment plan throughout the process. The oncology nurse navigator is also an educational resource for you and your caregiver(s).
- Infusion nurse – Infusion nurses work with your physician and other care team members to give you your chemotherapy, stem cell infusion, and supportive care. They provide education, emotional support, pain management, communication with your physician and family, and act as a liaison with other health care team members (for example: clinical social worker, dietitian, etc.).
Since most patients benefit from infusions (of fluid or blood products) after transplant, you may also see an infusion nurse after transplant. - Research nurse – If you are participating in a clinical trial, a research nurse will give you information about the trial and coordinate the plan and requirements of the protocol with your medical care.
Transplant clinical coordinator
This team member works with you before transplant to schedule your pre-transplant tests, ensuring they are completed on time. You may call your clinical coordinator with any non-medical questions you have.
Clinical social worker
A clinical social worker can provide counseling and emotional support to you and your family to help you cope with concerns or issues that may arise before, during, or after transplant as well as refer you to resources at Dana-Farber or in the community. Clinical social work services are available to you for additional support upon request or by referral during and after your transplant.
Nurse (RN) care coordinator (inpatient)
RN care coordinators help to map out your care, including discharge from the hospital (for inpatient transplant) and your recovery at home. They will work with you and your family to make plans for your transition home after transplant.
Resource specialists
- Hematologic oncology/BMT resource specialist — Resource specialists and clinical social workers work together to develop a plan for you and your family to address any social needs. The resource specialist can help navigate short-term accommodations (for example, nearby hotels), transportation, parking, and referrals to community-based programs.
- Pharmacy resource specialist — A pharmacy resource specialist is available to assist you and your caregiver to identify pharmacy assistance needs. They will guide you in securing pharmacy assistance and with making referrals to the following programs upon request:
- Co-pay and prescription assistance programs
- Pharmaceutical patient assistance programs
- State health insurance programs (providing insurance information, counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers)
Financial counselor
The financial counselor’s role is to help explain your health insurance coverage as it relates to your transplant. They may also be able to direct you to sources of financial assistance outside of Dana-Farber and BWH.
Donor search coordinator
If you need a donor transplant, a donor search coordinator will provide support with identifying a donor. Dana-Farber is accredited by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) to coordinate unrelated donor searches for patients who do not have a related donor. The coordinator works as a liaison between your care team and the NMDP (as well as other unrelated donor and cord blood registries) to organize the search for a suitable donor or cord blood unit.
Oral medicine specialist
A member of our oral medicine team is available by request or referral to address any oral health care issues during or after transplant.
Pharmacist
A pharmacist works with your transplant team to ensure that you receive the right drug therapy, ensuring you get the right dosing to avoid or minimize drug interactions and side effects. Because transplant medications are important and can be complicated, a pharmacist is a valuable resource to answer your questions about the medications you are taking.
Radiation oncologist
If you need radiation therapy as part of your treatment plan, a radiation oncologist will meet with you for a consultation and to discuss your care.
Psychiatrist
Consultation with a psychiatrist is available through Dana-Farber’s Psychosocial Oncology program by request or referral from your transplant team.
Dietitian
A dietitian will explain why it is important for you to follow a special transplant diet, review dietary restrictions as you choose meals as well as provide assistance with choosing items that fit within any allergies, intolerances, or preferences you have. If you have nutrition questions, please ask your physician or nurse for a referral to the dietitian.
Physical therapist (PT)
Given the potential for physical decline and weakness during transplant, your physician may ask that you be evaluated by a physical therapist. Consultation with a physical therapist is available by request or referral from your care team.
Chaplain
Chaplains can offer religious and/or spiritual support for you and your family. Chaplains from different faiths (including Interfaith, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Roman Catholic, and Protestant) are available to meet with you before, during, or after transplant. They can also provide a blessing of your stem cells on the day of infusion. To contact a chaplain, call 617-732-7480 for BWH, 617-632-3908 for Dana-Farber, or speak to a member of your care team.
Primary care doctor and local subspecialist(s)
In addition to the Dana-Farber and BWH care teams, your local primary care doctor and/or local sub-specialist(s) will continue to play an important role in your treatment. We will keep your local physician(s) informed of your transplant treatment and will collaborate with them for follow-up care closer to home when possible.
Please refer to the comprehensive guide - Stem Cell Transplantation: An Information Guide for Patients and Caregivers for more information.