Yes, SpeciCare absolutely coordinates with your doctor and hospital. Once you order your SpeciKit, it will be express shipped to you and one of our patient coordinators will contact your surgeon or hospital to confirm your tissue processing between your medical team and Specicare.
Here’s how SpeciCare’s coordination typically works:
- Patient-Initiated Process (Your Role is Key):
- SpeciCare emphasizes that the patient (or their caregiver) must express the desire to have their tissue saved and tested with SpeciCare. They won’t typically reach out to your doctor directly without your initiation.
- This is why their first step involves you connecting with a patient advocate to discuss your needs and sign their “SpeciDirective,” which gives you ownership and control over your tumor tissue.
- Facilitating Communication with Your Medical Team:
- While you initiate the process, SpeciCare is designed to work with your medical team. Their website states, “If your physician has questions or concerns, our medical team is happy to speak with them.”
- The SpeciKit® you receive contains clear instructions for your surgeon or the pathology team. This is designed to make the collection process straightforward for the medical professionals involved.
- Integration with Existing Procedures:
- SpeciCare’s process is designed to integrate seamlessly with your scheduled surgery or biopsy. They understand that the primary goal during these procedures is diagnosis and treatment.
- The kit ensures that after the necessary tissue is taken for routine pathology (which still happens as usual), a separate portion can be specifically collected and handled for cryopreservation, maintaining its viability.
- Returning Information to Your Care Team:
- Beyond just collecting and storing, SpeciCare aims to provide actionable information back to you and your clinical care team. This allows your doctors to make informed decisions about your care, potentially leveraging the insights gained from testing your live tumor tissue.
In summary:
- You are the primary coordinator: You initiate the process with SpeciCare.
- SpeciCare provides the tools and support: They give you the kit and instructions for your medical team, and their own medical team is available to answer questions from your doctors.
- Your doctor/hospital performs the collection: They use the SpeciCare kit to collect the tissue during your biopsy or surgery.
- Collaboration is key: Effective tumor tissue cryopreservation relies on good communication and cooperation between you, SpeciCare, and your medical team.
It’s vital to inform your surgeon and oncologist well in advance of your procedure that you intend to use a service like SpeciCare for tumor tissue cryopreservation. This allows them to prepare and ensure the tissue is handled correctly to maximize its viability for future use.
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