The first appointment

Here is information to help you prepare for your child's stem cell consultation appointment, as well as some general tips from other parents on how to best prepare for a hospital visit.

Before the consultation

• Need a first-time appointment? Request online or call 1.800.KIDS DOC (1.800.543.7362). 

• Already have your apointment? Register online using a secure form, or by calling 1.800.KIDS DOC (1.800.543.7362, press 3, then 1). 

• Find local hotels that often offer a discount to our patient families.

• Bring all necessary documents, including medical history, insurance information and your primary care doctor's written referral.

• We ask that families with HMO insurance coverage share their primary care doctor’s written referral with us. Any questions, please call our transplant financial associate at 773.880.3984 before your consultation.

During the consultation

We expect you will have many questions for us. Here are examples of some general and medical questions you may want to ask. You may also want to know:

• How long will the consultation take? About 2 hours.
• Who will we meet? Members of the health care team including your child's stem cell doctor.
• What will we talk about? Topics include treatment options, success rates and managing complications.
• We may also begin tissue-typing studies.

After the consultation

After your child's consultation, your stem cell doctor:

• Evaluates all tests
• Plans with you any other necessary pre-transplant testing
• Creates a comprehensive care plan

You may also want more information about:

• The hospital's billing and payment policy.
• Resources and support available to your entire family through our dedicated
  Family Services team.

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