Gene Therapy Program | What to Expect

Every visit to the clinic starts at the front desk, where staff will check your child in for the appointment. The length of each appointment varies from patient to patient and is dependent on many things including, but not limited to, blood work and lab results, preparation of medications and/or blood products, and length of treatment. To provide the highest quality of care for all patients, clinicians and staff manage both time and prioritize patient safety at each visit. If you have questions about patient care or wait time, please ask your healthcare team.

What hours are the clinic open?

• Clinic hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Phones are answered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
• The clinic is closed nights, Sundays, and holidays.
• The clinic is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. only for scheduled infusions or lab draws.

What are the clinic guidelines?

• Make every effort to arrive on time.
• We recommend you arrive 15 minutes before your first scheduled appointment of the day to allow time for check-in and vital signs.
• Early or late arrivals will be seen when a healthcare provider is available. If you are going to be late for your child’s appointment, call the front desk at 617-632-3270.
• If instructed to do so please arrive with a topical anesthetic applied for port access or injection(s). This helps keep your appointment on schedule, and minimizes wait time.
• Bring a current medication list and your child’s medications to each clinic visit.
• Bring items to clinic that your child may need throughout the day such as a change of clothes, diapers, formula or special food that your child may need.

While in the clinic

• Check in at the JFC front desk. If your child has a fever or seems unwell, let the front desk staff know immediately.
• An identification bracelet will be placed on your child.
• An RTLS (Real Time Locating System) Badge will be given to your child and needs to be worn from when you check in to clinic until you check out. This is how clinic staff find your child throughout your appointment. 
• After check-in, remain in the waiting area.   Stem cell transplant patients are seen either in the private isolation rooms or in the regular clinic rooms. You should not wait in the main waiting room.
• Let the front desk staff know if you have been waiting for vital signs longer than 20 to 30 minutes after your scheduled arrival time.
• If labs are drawn in the clinic, it usually takes one to two hours for results to be available. While you are waiting, healthcare providers are reviewing lab results, finalizing chemotherapy orders, and preparing medications. When your child’s treatment is ready you will be brought into the infusion area.
• Patient menus are available at the front desk to order food for your child while in clinic.
• Please do not leave money, jewelry or other valuables unattended at any time while in the clinic.
• Children under 18 need to be supervised by a guardian at all times. If you must leave the clinic for a maximum of 15-30 minutes during your child’s treatment, please ask clinic staff so that they can determine if we can safely care for your child in your absence.

Checking out of the Jimmy Fund Clinic

When your health care provider has cleared you to leave clinic for the day you will be given:

• An updated list of all your child’s medications.
• A list of upcoming appointments. Please review the dates and times carefully.
• Please go to the front desk to schedule any future appointments.
• Please return the RTLS badge to the RTLS frog drop box in the clinic when you leave.

How can I visit a patient?

Siblings or other family members are welcome in the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Friends and family members who are ill cannot visit.
• Children under 18 must be supervised by parents or guardians at all time.
• Due to limited space, be mindful of the of the number of visitors you bring to clinic.

Visiting a patient on precautions in a private infusion room:

• Siblings and visitors must remain in the patient room.
• Parents or adult caregivers may leave the patient room but must wash their hands before and after entering common areas such as the hallway, resource room, activity room and kitchen

Clinic areas

• The Playroom is where you can find toys, games, and other activities.
• The Teen Area is where teens and young adults can spend time with others their own age while in clinic.
• The Blum Pediatric Resource Room is where you can find books and information. Art, music, and other activities are available for your family.
• Nourishment stations are located in the waiting area and the infusion area.