Facing a blood or marrow transplant, is a time of challenge and of hope. You want to be confident that you will receive the very best care available. You also want to know that you will be treated as a person with individual needs and concerns.

At University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, we offer expert care to meet your medical and non-medical needs. You will be cared for by a team of health professionals trained specifically to serve patients undergoing BMT. Each of these professionals is dedicated to our patients' well being, committed to providing compassionate care and devoted to excellence in patient care, research and teaching.

Medical Staff
Your attending or staff physician--a specialist in blood and marrow transplantation--leads your health care team, overseeing all aspects of your care. Although you may not see this person every day, he or she is in daily consultation with other staff members, coordinating their efforts. Other members of the medical staff include:

• Medical fellows--pediatricians or internal medicine specialists receiving additional training in blood and marrow transplantation, hematology and oncology.
• Residents--physicians taking advanced training to become pediatricians or internal medicine specialists.
• Primary attending physician--a specialist who will see you in follow-up clinic after your discharge.
• Nurse practioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) also work closely with the attending physicians and help with treatment.
• Consultant physicians from other specialties may be asked to see you about a specific concern or treatment.

Nursing Staff
A nurse coordinator will be involved with your pre-transplant evaluation, your hospital stay and follow-up care after transplant. BMT unit nurses are responsible for monitoring your care, planning and coordinating your daily care with other health team members. The BMT unit nurses are specially trained to care for BMT patients. The charge nurse serves as a liaison with you, your family and other nurses and physicians. Nursing assistants provide support services such as taking you to a test or assisting the nurses with your care.  The BMT clinical nurse specialist is a resource for staff, patients and families regarding nursing care issues during BMT.

Other members of the team on the unit include:

• Social Work and discharge planning staff
• Spiritual Health providers
• Care Partners volunteers

Other Health Care Professionals
During your stay, you may come into contact with many other health care professionals, including radiology technologists, therapists, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, dietitians, and physical and occupational therapists.