How quickly can I get an appointment? Appointments are available almost immediately, but we recommend waiting until all necessary medical records have been gathered.
What do I need to bring to my first appointment? Before the initial precision medicine appointment is set, patients will be told exactly what medical records, family histories, and other information needs to be provided by the patient or his / her doctors.
How long does it take to get my results, and who will review my results with me? The turnaround time for test results depends on many factors, including the nature of the medical condition and the types of tests performed. Depending on the case, any findings or test results will be discussed with the patient by the appropriate medical professionals, such as physicians and genetic counselors.
Will precision medicine negatively affect my existing medical care? Precision medicine will not negatively affect a patient’ s existing medical care. In fact, the specialists in our Precision Medicine program will communicate and coordinate with the patient’ s other health care providers as needed, potentially enhancing the routine care patients receive from them.
Will my personal information be kept private? Yes. All medical and personal information gathered during the course of a precision medicine evaluation is subject to the same privacy rules that govern other types of medical information, including the privacy protection established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996( HIPAA). Genetic and genomic testing is protected by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act. Any information that may be shared for the advancement of medical science, such as demographic data or characteristics of a disease or treatment, is shared anonymously and in accordance with federal regulations.
Why would I choose UAB for precision medicine? UAB is a national leader in patient care, research, and training, and we are the only medical center in Alabama that offers precision medicine services. Consistently ranked among the nation’ s best hospitals by U. S. News & World Report, UAB maintains advanced programs in cancer, neurology, cardiology, women & infants services, and many other specialties. Because we are a major center of research, our patients may have access to certain interventions and treatments long before they are available at other hospitals. People from all over the world come to UAB for their health care needs.
How do I get started with this process? If you wish to be evaluated by the UAB Precision Medicine program, speak to your primary care physician, oncologist, neurologist, or other specialists involved in your current medical care. You also may contact UAB Precision Medicine at uabprecisionmed @ uabmc. edu to learn more about our services.