Prior to Admission
Your Room
Many transplant patients come to view their room as an island of safety. It is true that your room is the cleanest place with the cleanest air that you will ever experience. Depending on the type of transplant you are to have, you will be assigned either to a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration room or a laminar air flow room (LAF).
Generally, the HEPA room is reserved for most patients receiving their own cells for transplant (an autologous BMT). The room is ventilated with specially filtered air and once in the room the air is re-filtered. Doors are closed when the patient's blood counts are low and all persons entering the room at that time should wash their hands thoroughly. Those in street shoes and clothing will put on surgeon booties and hospital gowns.
LAF rooms are reserved for patients receiving a donor cell transplant. This is a room-within-a-room with one wall of the interior room being a high efficiency filter providing the cleanest air possible for patients. Special instructions for these rooms will be reviewed with you and your visitors.
| This picture shows the special wall of the LAF room that protects patients by providing the cleanest air possible using a high efficiency filter. |
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Your room will be equipped with a hospital bed, cabinet with a shelf to store clothing, bedside stand, foot stool, 2 guest chairs, a bulletin board, cable television, video player, telephone, and a bathroom. A card table is available; all you need to do is ask. Videotapes are available from the University of Iowa Hospital patient library.
It is important for you to make your room comfortable and a bit like home by bringing in some personal belongings.
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