Clinic Visits for the Transplant Patient
Your follow-up visits will be at the Transplant Clinic. Your first clinic visit is about 2 to 3 weeks after you leave the hospital. Your nurse will schedule it before you go home. Further appointments will be made by the clinic. You should plan on spending 3 to 4 hours at the UW Hospital for your clinic visits.
Things to bring to clinic visits
- Your medicines
- A list of your current medicines
- Your patient education binder
- Records of your weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature at home
- Records of your blood test (lab) results
- Records of your blood sugar readings if you have diabetes
- A snack
Lab Work
You will have your blood drawn about 1 to 2 hours before your scheduled visit. This allows the doctors to have the results of your blood tests when they see you in clinic. You will have blood drawn in the outpatient lab on the 2nd floor. The orders for your blood work will be ready for you when you arrive at the lab.
Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for 8 to 12 hours before these blood draws. Do not take your tacrolimus or cyclosporine until after the lab draw. It is okay to take your other medicine.
If your insurance company does not allow you to have lab tests drawn at UWHC, please make a plan with your coordinator to have the lab tests done before your clinic visit.
Arriving at the Transplant Clinic
Plan to arrive at the Transplant Clinic at least 15 minutes before you are scheduled to see the doctor. You will need to register with the clinic receptionist and check in. A clinic nurse or medical assistant will weigh you, take your blood pressure, check your logbook, discuss how you are doing at home, and review your medicines. If you need any supplies or prescriptions, please tell the nurses at this time.
You may have time to go the cafeteria before you see the doctor. Always bring a snack, especially if you are diabetic, in case there is no time for you to go to the cafeteria between your lab draw and seeing the doctor.
After you see the doctor you will meet with a transplant coordinator or clinic nurse to discuss medicine changes and other follow-up instructions.
Additional help
Clinic pharmacists, dieticians, and social workers are on hand to see you at clinic visits. Clinic nurses and transplant coordinators can arrange this upon your request.
Clinic Day Schedule
1. Take morning medicines, except your tacrolimus or cyclosporin.
2. Park in the parking ramp, enter through “Clinics Entrance.”
3. Go to the Information desk, clinics lobby, on the main floor. They will give you a pager for registration.
4. At registration, you will turn in your first pager and they will then give you a second pager for the lab.
5. Have your blood drawn.
6. Take your tacrolimus or cyclosporin after your labs are drawn.
7. Take the “H” elevator to the First Floor, follow the signs to Transplant Clinic.
8. Check in with reception in Transplant Clinic.
9. If you need to go eat after reporting to the clinic, please tell the receptionist, as this may interfere with the time that you will be seeing the provider.
10. Clinic visit with doctor.
11. Meet with your coordinator to review follow-up plan.
12. Schedule next return to clinic visit with receptionist.
Before leaving the Transplant clinic
- Obtain an after visit summary. This will have an updated medication list and your lab results, as well as any foloow up instructions.
- Obtain mailers and labels for drug levels if needed
- Schedule your next visit
If you need to change your clinic visit please call (608) 262-5420.
The Spanish version of this Health Facts for You is #7005.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 03/14/2012
Copyright © 03/14/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6792
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