FAQs
Below you’ll find some frequently asked questions about Transfusion Medicine Specialists.
Patient’s
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Transfusion Medicine Specialists provides quality wellness care for patients who need transfusion services such as therapeutic phlebotomies, while offering timely appointments, direct insurance billing and on-site evaluations by our qualified medical staff.
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Patients requiring therapeutic phlebotomy who do not have a diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis or are not undergoing testosterone therapy.
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No. Those patients with hereditary hemochromatosis or undergoing testosterone therapy may still visit a OneBlood donor center.
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Orlando: inside the OneBlood building at 8669 Commodity Circle
St. Petersburg: inside the OneBlood building at 9900 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N
Jacksonville: inside the OneBlood building at 7595 Centurion Parkway
Ft. Lauderdale location coming soon!
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The goal is for Transfusion Medicine Specialists to treat all patients requiring therapeutic phlebotomy that DO NOT HAVE a diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis or are not undergoing testosterone therapy.
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No. Clinics will be centrally located at OneBlood’s larger centers.
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No. Therapeutic phlebotomy treatment for patients who do not have a diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis or testosterone therapy will ONLY be available at the new Transfusion Medicine Specialists clinic.
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No. Patients must have an appointment in advance. Walk-ins will not be accepted.
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The clinics are set up to accept insurance, Medicare and Medicaid and self-pay. In many cases patients will only be responsible for their copay.
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Please call 1-888-855-5740 to schedule your appointment.
Physician’s
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TMS is a team of professionals following the highest medical safety standards. Patients are monitored closely by a dedicated nurse and Blood Bank physicians dedicated to this function. In addition, we have the most up-to-date apheresis equipment, and our Jacksonville site has been designated a Terumo Center for Excellence.
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TMS medical staff will provide consultation services as part of our procedures. Our medical staff can assist with the formulation of a therapeutic plan including:
- Volumes to be exchanged or treated
- Replacement solutions
- Frequency and number of procedures
- Lab tests to monitor response
Simply contact us and we will work with you and your staff to implement a treatment plan for your patients.
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No. Currently the only wellness clinic offering Therapeutic Apheresis procedures is the Jacksonville TMS location. In the future other clinics may provide this service.
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Any patient requiring apheresis needs a medical history (including a medication review), physical examination and laboratory investigations. The medical history should focus on the indication for apheresis (e.g. diagnosis, current symptoms, appropriateness of request, concurrent treatments), and health-care providers should use this information to assess the patient’s ability to tolerate the procedure and identify potential complications so they can be mitigated. The physical examination should include, at minimum, vital signs, height and weight, peripheral venous access assessment and volume status. Prior to the first apheresis treatment, laboratory tests may include: a complete blood count; electrolytes and creatinine; calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and albumin. Additional laboratory studies may also be necessary, depending on the indication for apheresis. Serologic testing and biochemical disease markers should be collected prior to apheresis to avoid inaccurate results. Since apheresis patients are exposed to large amounts of blood components and products, consider checking immunity against hepatitis B and offering vaccination if non-immune.
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Visit our Prescription Center and download the Outpatient Therapeutic Apheresis Request Form. Once you complete the form you have 2 options to submit the request:
- Fax the form to 1-407-386-3227
- E-mail electronic copy to TMSscheduling@oneblood.org
Our Medical team will review the request and proceed to generate an order. The order will require your signature for approval and medical authorization. Once medical authorization is obtained, our scheduling team will be contacting the patient to schedule the visit(s).