When the transplant evaluation is completed, your medical information is presented to a hospital committee and, if approved, is then presented to the Ohio Solid Organ Transplantation Consortium Committee. All patients accepted for cardiac transplantation are listed with the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS is a national organization which keeps a computerized list of all patients waiting for a donor organ. Blood group, body size, date of acceptance and severity of illness determine which patient will receive the next available heart.
Waiting for a donor heart
Your care as a transplant patient at The University Hospital will be managed by an expertly trained, highly skilled transplant team that includes cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, transplant coordinators, pathologists, pharmacists, dietitians, psychiatrists, social workers and other staff members.
Transplant cardiologists oversee the care of our transplant patients. Transplant coordinators serve as liaisons between the staff, doctors, patient and all other members of the team. They can provide you with guidance and referrals to appropriate organizations that can help you with housing, financial, psychological and medical questions. Along with transplant cardiologists and other members of the team, you will work closely with the transplant coordinator throughout the process.
If you are well enough to be discharged from the hospital during this waiting period, the transplant coordinator will provide you with a pager. This enables the transplant team to reach you around-the-clock while you go about your daily activities. When a donor heart becomes available, your coordinator will phone you at home or work. If you cannot be reached by telephone you will be paged.
The average waiting time for a donor heart is about six months, but the wait can be much shorter or much longer, depending on the availability of a heart.
During the waiting period, you will be asked to contact the transplant team with changes in medications, occurrences of infection or hospitalization.
The Role of Your Personal Physician
After you are accepted as a transplant patient, The University Hospital transplant team works in close cooperation with your personal physician. We encourage your doctor to remain involved in your day-to-day care. Since your own doctor knows your medical history best, his/her assessment of any changes in your condition is extremely important to us in keeping track of your progress.
Your Role in the Transplant Process
Your active participation in recovery and in maintaining your good health is a key factor in the success of your heart transplant.
The transplant coordinator and the doctors will teach you and your family about the transplant surgery, your hospital stay and what is required after your transplant operation.
There is a lot to learn about the transplant procedure and how to take care of yourself after your transplant.
After you are accepted as a transplant patient, The University Hospital transplant team works in close cooperation with your personal physician. We encourage your doctor to remain involved in your day-to-day care. Since your own doctor knows your medical history best, his/her assessment of any changes in your condition is extremely important to us in keeping track of your progress.