You do not need a specific CAR T-cell referral to begin. Any hematologist or community oncologist can initiate the process to a specialized center. However, a multidisciplinary team at an accredited Israeli hospital must confirm your final eligibility for treatment.
- Specialist evaluation: Experts like Dr. Ram Ron at Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) perform detailed assessments.
- Center accreditation: Major hubs like Sheba Medical Center hold required Ministry of Health certifications.
- Committee approval: National boards and institutional committees must approve cases following strict protocols.
- International access: Patients traveling from abroad can provide medical documentation to start remote reviews.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While any hematologist can refer you, selecting a doctor with a high volume of related procedures speeds up valid documentation. For example, Dr. Ivetta Danylesko at Sheba Medical Center has performed over 3,000 procedures. Working with such experienced specialists helps ensure your medical history meets specific clinical trials or protocol requirements faster.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that pushing a local oncologist to refer directly to a CAR T-cell team can help bypass general queues. Many emphasize that having all previous treatment lines documented is vital for the multi-center board review. It is also common for patients to plan for a three to four month wait even after the initial referral.