Our Services and Facilities

A comprehensive variety of medical services is available through the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, including diagnosis, pre-transplant evaluation, patient/family education, nutritional and psychosocial support, cancer pain management, post-discharge care, and long-term follow-up.

Inpatient Unit
The BMT program includes a dedicated inpatient unit with five designated transplant beds, situated within a 23-bed oncology unit. Each of the private transplant rooms is equipped with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtered air support, positive pressure, and antechambers to minimize contamination of the room. Inpatient care is provided by RNs with specialized knowledge and training in BMT. A satellite pharmacy located on the inpatient unit provides medical and nursing staff immediate access to pharmacological consultation from an oncology-trained pharmacist. Additionally onsite are a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week clinical laboratory and a full-service blood bank.

Outpatient Facility
BMT patients receive outpatient care at the Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center, a 40,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. This center provides total flexibility in choosing either an inpatient or outpatient treatment setting, depending on clinical appropriateness and patient preference. Also at the Comprehensive Cancer Center, a full range of oncology services is available. These include chemotherapy, intravenous therapies, blood transfusions, radiologic studies, laboratory, pharmacy, nutrition services, psychosocial support, cancer pain management and patient/family education.

Radiation Oncology
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center's board-certified radiation oncologists, in addition to three radiation physicists and three dosimetrists, are highly experienced in total body and total lymphoid irradiation. Fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) is administered using a Varian 21EX Linear Accelerator. Radiotherapy treatments are administered using the linear accelerator with 6MV and 16MV as well as electron capability. The radiation oncology team's experience enables them to design and administer individualized therapy effectively, efficiently, and on short notice.

Pheresis Unit
An on-site pheresis unit is available for harvesting of stem cells.

Diagnostic Radiology
BMT patients have on-site access to state-of-the-art, full range radiological services, including CT and MRI scanning.

Intensive Care Unit
The 16-bed ICU includes two reverse-isolation rooms for BMT patients.

Cryopreservation
We maintain our own onsite Ph.D.-directed Cryopreservation Laboratory, which has full marrow, peripheral stem cell, and cord blood processing, analysis, and short/long-term storage capabilities. Staff include four Clinical Laboratory Scientists and a Lab Assistant.

Back to top

Family Accommodations and Home Care

For the families of patients traveling a distance to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, family housing is available for a nominal fee at the Halcyon House, a two-bedroom, fully furnished residence with kitchen, just two blocks from the center.

When patients return to their homes post-transplant, services for infusion and nursing care can be can be arranged if required by our BMT coordinator through appropriate home care agencies, such as the California Visiting Nurse Association (VNA).

Back to top

BMT Patient and Family Support Program

The BMT Patient and Family Support program offers many support systems to assist patients with psychosocial issues, ensuring that patients receive not only the physical care they need, but the emotional care as well. Clinical coordinators, social worker and psychiatrists are available to help patients and their families deal with specific cancer-related psychological issues through support groups and other means of counseling.

Coping with the stress of having a bone marrow transplant can be extremely difficult without support. The BMT program offers a variety of support systems to provide assistance with psychosocial issues. Prior to the transplant, patients meet with the BMT Clinical Coordinator who helps assess social and psychological concerns and helps arrange for the care needed to address these issues.

During a patient's stay, a psychologist and a social worker will monitor that patient's well being throughout the transplant process. In addition, a psychiatrist is available to assist with psychological issues that may arise. When receiving outpatient care, help with any cancer-specific issues is available from social workers and a psychiatrist.

After returning home, infusion and nursing care services are available through Visiting Nurse Services. These services focus on consistent follow-up and continued communication with the outpatient facility (Comprehensive Cancer Center) and the referring center.

Back to top

Patient and Family Support Groups

Support groups can help make the difference! Alta Bates Summit offers a variety of educational/support groups for cancer patients and their families. To see a complete list of current support groups and classes, go to the Complementary Therapy & Support Groups.

Continuing the thread of caring and support, the BMT program hosts a regular Patient and Family Reunion, bringing patients and BMT team members together for a joyful event filled with sharing, encouragement, and warmth.
Back to top

BMT Program Staff

The BMT team provides a well-integrated multidisciplinary approach through all phases of treatment, ensuring the highest quality personalized care for our patients and their families.

The partnership formed between each patient and the BMT medical staff is unique and special. Once a patient has been accepted into the program, one physician is selected to direct the care from initial consultations through hospitalization and post-transplant care. Working with the BMT physician, the BMT Clinical Coordinator facilitates the referral and testing process, conducts patient and staff education, and assists in arranging outpatient care leading up to and following transplant, including long-term follow-up after the patient returns to the primary care physician.

The BMT Program is also committed to its referring physicians and encourages their full participation. Patients return to their referring physician after the standard follow-up period of 60-100 days post-bone marrow transplantation.

Our Staff:

• The BMT Program Medical Director oversees all aspects of the transplantation program, and works closely with other BMT physicians as well as clinical and administrative staff.
  
  
• Cryopreservation Laboratory Director directs the processing, analysis, and storage of peripheral blood and bone marrow stem cells harvested for transplantation.
  
  
• The Inpatient Unit Manager manages the Inpatient Unit, working to ensure quality care for the duration of inpatient stay.
  
  
• BMT Clinical Coordinators facilitate the referral process, coordinate the testing process, and conduct patient education and staff preparation. They also assist in arranging outpatient care leading up to and following transplant, including long-term follow-up after returning to your primary care physician.
  
  
• BMT Clinical Nurse Specialist provides support for nurses and their patients and also develops protocols for the care and management of BMT patients.
  
  
• Oncology Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator works closely with physicians, nurses and dieticians to optimize drug therapy by monitoring and adjusting chemotherapy, antimicrobial therapy, parenteral nutrition, electrolytes/hydration, anti-emetics and more.
  
  
• BMT Administrative Coordinator handles all insurance and authorization issues, insuring that the detailed process leading up to transplantation is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
  
  
• Oncology Analyst/Programmer creates and maintains clinical databases containing relevant information on all patients undergoing stem-cell transplantation. Also provides statistical analysis and reporting capabilities, including the calculation of Kaplan-Meier outcome statistics.
  
  
• Ancillary Support Staff: Subspecialty consultants are readily available, including surgeons with expertise in placing vascular access devices, pathologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonary specialists skilled in bronchoscopy, nephrologists able to perform dialysis, infectious disease consultants, radiation oncologists, and psychiatrists. Additional ancillary support includes a team of social workers, dietitians, and occupational, physical and respiratory therapists.
  
  Back to top

  Referral and Contact Information

  To refer a patient to the Alta Bates Summit BMT Program, or to learn more about our program, please call (510) 204-6401.
  
  Back to top