What Every Patient Needs to Know - UMC

Preparing for Your TransplantSection 2Each person’s journey to transplant is unique.Some people wait for extended periods of time,hoping for the day when they will be called fora transplant. Others come to transplant withcompatible living donor candidates and movequickly to surgery and life with their new organ.No matter the circumstances, nearly everyonefinds it difficult to completely absorb that theyhave an end-stage disease that can best betreated with a transplant.The fear and anxiety that nearly every transplantcandidate feels are further compounded by thecomplex system for transplant evaluation andorgan matching. To make the process easier tounderstand, here’s what you can expect when yourdoctor recommends that you be evaluated for atransplant and refers you to a transplant center.The Transplant Process1. You are evaluated for a transplant by themedical team at a transplant center.2. If accepted as a transplant candidate, you areregistered on the national organ transplantwaiting list. A living donor may also beidentified and evaluated for living donation.3. You begin organizing your support system.4. You begin developing your financial strategy.5. Your waiting period begins.6. Your transplant takes place.7. Your medical team manages your posttransplantcare.In the following sections we’ll present step-by-stepinstructions to get you started, based on experiencesof transplant recipients and their donors.Practice selfadvocacybystating, ‘I think,I feel, I need,I want.’– Transplant Social WorkerTransplant CentersA transplant center is a hospital that has staffthat specializes in transplant medicine.Your primary doctor or organ specialist can referyou to a transplant center that:• is near your home• specializes in your medical situation• accepts your insuranceChoosing a Transplant CenterOne of the biggest decisions you will make as atransplant candidate is choosing a transplantcenter. There are nearly 250 transplant centers inthe U.S. and all of them must meet strict professionalstandards. Go to http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov(click on Members>Member Directory) to accesstransplant center listings and links. Many patientssimply choose the facility closest to them, butthere are several questions to ask when choosinga transplant center:10