Support Services
The Inova Transplant Center recognizes that transplantation can be an unsettling experience for patients and their families. We believe that regardless of where you are in the transplant process, you never need to face these concerns and this anxiety alone. Our dedicated transplant team recognizes the special needs of transplant patients and understands that living with a transplant may affect your lifestyle in many ways. We endeavor to help patients resume many of their former activities, and we encourage patients to maximize their quality of life. With these goals in mind, we provide a wide range of support services to both patients and their families. These include:
- Heart
Failure and Transplant Education
- Educational Programs and Presentations
- Patient
and Family Support
Heart Failure and Transplant Patient Education
Education for both the patient and his/her family is a central component of the transplant process. Education begins at the patient's initial evaluation, extends throughout the pre-transplant waiting period, and continues throughout post-transplantation.The dedicated heart transplant coordinators in conjunction with team members provide ongoing education to the patient and family. Patients also are given literature pertaining to heart transplantation and are encouraged to ask the coordinator(s) all questions and concerns about the transplant process.
Patient and Family Support
The monthly Transplant Lecture Series offers support to patients and their families. Scheduled presentations include topics such as:- coping with waiting periods
- expectations
- what transplant surgery is like
- diet and exercise
- medications
- financial considerations
- returning to work and an active lifestyle
Pre-transplant patients and their families also are given the opportunity to speak to other patients who already have been through the transplant process. This interaction allows patients to hear first-hand about the process and to ask candid questions about coping and expectations.
Our entire transplant team, including the transplant social worker and psychiatrist, play an active role in supporting patients and their families throughout the transplant process.
Transplant and Post-Transplant
Emotional support is provided for patients and their families by the nurses, transplant coordinators, transplant psychiatrist, transplant social worker, and attending physicians. Post-transplant patients sometimes are asked to visit in-house patients to provide additional encouragement and support throughout the process.Transplant recipients and their families are encouraged to attend a once a month Transplant Support Group, which is led by a dedicated transplant coordinator.
