[MUSIC PLAYING] UChicago Medicine is an academic medical center where the patient always comes first. People with complex illnesses come from all over the world, not only for innovative and novel therapies, but for an environment of genuine care. We balance our patient-centered approach with a view into tomorrow's therapies today.
As part of the University of Chicago, we embrace leading-edge science as we pursue the most innovative treatments. We train the next generation of doctors at one of the world's top universities, where we have access to the latest studies and clinical trials. Through rigorous research and comprehensive care, UChicago Medicine creates life-changing results. Our commitment to patients goes beyond language and culture and helps make possible a more equitable future.
Every year, UChicago Medicine International Programs provide care for hundreds of patients from all around the world. We provide advanced care and personalized services for international patients who come to Chicago seeking help. Our clinical centers of excellence treat a variety of the most complex health conditions. Our NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center is nationally ranked and offers breakthrough treatments, such as CAR T-cell therapy.
Well, I think everything we do takes into account both the advances that are made here at the University of Chicago in terms of the discovery of new techniques, as well as incorporating a multidisciplinary approach, which is the key to the best outcome.
We are a world leader in transplant, especially in the most complex multi-organ transplants. Our heart and vascular center has the best outcomes in the United States for heart transplants.
Patients come to the University of Chicago seeking expert opinions from thought leaders in the field who are well known nationally, internationally for their experience.
UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital pairs the most advanced technology with a family centered approach and a kid-friendly philosophy.
This is a place that's not only about doing medicine by the book. It's about writing the book for children who don't have good solutions to their problems.
So from a clinical perspective, we provide the best state-of-the-art care for all of our patients' needs.
For every single patient who wishes to come to University of Chicago Medicine, when they first submit their request to us, with their clinical records. So I first review these records and making sure they are sent to the appropriate specialist for review. So here, we're making sure everyone's case is triaged to the right person. And we want to make sure we can make a difference. So if after review, there is any treatment options that's not available in home country that we can offer here, we will go ahead and let the patients know.
We pride ourselves on having a five star guest services unit for international patients. Anything that is not clinical, the guest services unit is in charge of. We communicate with the patients even before they arrive to the United States. We work with them to understand their needs for housing. And based on their preference, we give them choices on where to stay.
We are able to place our patients in hotels, in extended stays, or in corporate housing. We offer tailored meet-and-greet service for every single patient upon their arrival to Chicago. When the patients lands in the airport, our team will take them to their destination free of charge and help them check in wherever they are staying.
We set up their cell phone service. We set up their banking. And we give them guidance about food and places of worship. We are here to answer their questions and to help them feel at home while they are receiving care.
So as an international program coordinator, I am a liaison. I act as-- I connect the patient with our physician, our care team here in the embassy, which is like the guarantor. All of us coordinators are also certified interpreters. In addition to having interpreter services, we have in-person interpreters. And we also have over the phone 24/7 and iPads available to our patients.
We put them in a room. We stay in communication. We remind them about their appointment the day before. If there's any instructions, any labs, any results, anything like that, so always touch base with them. Just to ensure that patient understands the plan of care from every aspect and facilitate the communication between them and our care team.
Everything was arranged basically from the ambulance since we started coming here. They offered us well to give us accommodation. They provide a social worker to communicate with us. And of course, Claudia was daily with us, talking to us. Even if we are not there, she would visit Suleiman every day.
He would talk to her to communicate with other doctors, if he had any comments or complaint, I would go back to her. So everybody was helpful, and professional, and emotional at the same time. So I'd like to thank them all, all the staff, medical, nurses, social worker, everybody actually was doing a great job.
