A transplant center is a hospital that has an established transplant program with experience performing marrow or cord blood transplants. As you consider where to seek treatment, keep in mind that:
- Some transplant centers specialize in certain diseases or patients of specific ages.
- Your doctor might recommend a specific transplant center.
- You may have to travel to receive a transplant.
- Your insurance company may limit your choice of transplant centers.
Location, support services and center experience treating patients like you are all important factors in choosing a transplant center.
What to look for
Knowing what to look for in a transplant center and what questions to ask is important when making a decision to have a transplant and where to be treated.
A center's transplant experience with certain diseases or ages of patients may be an imortant factor for you. Or you might choose a transplant center close to your family and friends.
Some other factors you may want to consider:
- What experience does this transplant center have?
- What do the transplant center survival statistics mean?
- How does the number of transplants done for your disease at this center compare to other centers?
- What is the patient and donor matching level required at this center?
- What are some of the pre-transplant costs at this center?
Questions to ask
The transplant process and recovery take a long time. It is likely you will stay at the transplant center or temporary housing near the center for 100 days or more. It is important to feel comfortable in your surroundings and have a good relationship with your transplant team. If you and your doctor have narrowed your selection to a few transplant centers, it might be helpful to contact each one to ask questions about their transplant programs.
You may want to use the printable transplant center comparison worksheet (PDF) as you compare centers.
Finally, when making your choice, it is important to work with your doctor and insurance company to find the center that is best for you.
U.S. transplant center listings
You can find answers to many of your questions in the individual U.S. transplant center listings.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has patient survival and transplant data for transplants performed in the U.S., including overall patient survival for specific diseases.
BMT InfoNet offers information and emotional support to transplant patients and their families, including information about transplants using cells from a related donor or using cells collected from the patient (autologous transplants).