Physician Services with Penn PhysicianLink®

Penn PhysicianLink® is an exclusive program that helps all referring physicians connect with Penn Medicine. This comprehensive package of support services expedites and facilitates direct physician communication for patient consults, referrals, transfers and appointments.

Penn PhysicianLink offers:

The Penn Transplant Institute is dedicated to serving as a resource for physicians and their patients. Penn's multidisciplinary team leads the region in the total number of transplants performed and is ranked among the top 10 multi-organ transplant centers in the country.

Initiating the Heart Evaluation Process

Patients with one or more of the following risk factors and who are NYHA (New York Heart Association) Class III or IV should be considered for referral for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and/or cardiac transplantation evaluation.

For a heart failure consultation, and/or evaluation for a VAD or heart transplant, please call 215-615-0800 and press 7.

Communication with Referring Physicians

Communication with referring physicians is a top priority for the Penn heart transplant team. Referring physicians are called at the time of transplant and are updated on the patient’s course. Continuing communication regarding patient status is sent via letters at the time of follow up office visits. Team members are available via cell phone or email to answer any questions.

The Penn Transplant Institute is dedicated to serving as a resource for physicians and their patients. Penn's multidisciplinary team leads the region in the total number of transplants performed and is ranked among the top 10 multi-organ transplant centers in the country.

Initiating the Kidney Evaluation Process

Patients should be considered for transplant evaluation at the time of referral to dialysis or when the patient’s GFR is less than or equal to 20 ml/min. The Penn kidney transplant program is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a Medicare-approved transplant center and a center of excellence for a number of insurance companies. 

Records can be faxed or mailed to the Penn Transplant Institute:

Patients who do not meet the criteria for kidney transplant consultation can be seen by any of the specialists at the Penn Transplant Institute for a second opinion or disease management. Transplant staff will help coordinate the referral. The Penn transplant team is always available to discuss the candidacy of any prospective kidney transplant patient

Communication with Referring Physicians

Communication with referring physicians is a top priority for the Penn kidney transplant team. Referring physicians are called at the time of transplant and are updated on the patient's hospital course. Continuing communication regarding patient status is sent via letters at the time of follow up office visits. Team members are also available via cell phone or email to answer any questions or discuss a patient.

Patient Education

The Penn Transplant Institute is pleased to provide free kidney transplant group patient education sessions for nephrology practices and dialysis units. To schedule a session at your practice or dialysis unit, please contact Margaret Leid, transplant community liaison at 215-615-4462 or margaret.leid@uphs.upenn.edu

Staff In-services

The kidney transplant team is committed to educating dialysis units and nephrology office staff about all aspects of the kidney transplant process. The following topics are available for breakfast or lunch in-service training:

In addition, evening dinner sessions that can be tailored to specific practice interests allow nephrologists and their clinical team to meet with Penn’s transplant nephrologists and surgeons. For more information, please contact Margaret Leid, transplant community liaison at 215-615-4462 or margaret.leid@uphs.upenn.edu.

The Penn Transplant Institute is dedicated to serving as a resource for physicians and their patients. Penn's multidisciplinary team leads the region in the total number of transplants performed and is ranked among the top 10 multi-organ transplant centers in the country.

Initiating the Liver Evaluation Process

Liver transplant should be considered for patients meeting any of the following clinical parameters:

Records can be faxed or mailed to:

Communication with Referring Physicians

Communication with referring physicians is a top priority for the Penn liver transplant team. Referring physicians are called at the time of transplant and are updated on the patient’s course. Continuing communication regarding patient status is sent via letters at the time of follow up office visits. Team members are available via cell phone or email to answer any questions.

Once a patient is stable, the individual is transferred back to the primary care provider, usually between six and 12 months following transplant. In order to track patient outcomes and fulfill United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) regulations, Penn evaluates transplant patients every year following transplant. The Penn liver transplant team is available to assist providers with the management of transplant patients.

The Penn Transplant Institute is dedicated to serving as a resource for physicians and their patients. Penn's multidisciplinary team leads the region in the total number of transplants performed and is ranked among the top 10 multi-organ transplant centers in the country.

Initiating the Lung Evaluation Process

Once pertinent medical records are received and reviewed, patients are called to schedule a consultation appointment. The following information should be sent including:

All tests required for evaluation can be scheduled at Penn Medicine if necessary. The Penn Lung Transplant Program is a member of United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a Medicare-approved transplant center and a center of excellence for a number of insurance companies. Penn's program has contacts with most major insurance companies and the ability to negotiate individual contracts when needed.

Records can be faxed or mailed to the Lung Transplant Office:

All patient records are promptly reviewed and, if appropriate, a consultation visit is scheduled. The waiting time for consultation appointments is two to three weeks, but the lung transplant evaluation team can accommodate urgent visits. At the time of the first visit, patients should bring actual copies of recent chest X-rays and other relevant radiographic studies (such as CT scans) and, if applicable, lung biopsy slides. If deemed an appropriate candidate for lung transplant at the time of the initial visit, patients are scheduled to complete a three-day series of outpatient testing to determine suitability for transplantation. Referring physicians are provided with a comprehensive written report summarizing the first visit and all subsequent testing. Patients who do not meet the criteria for lung transplant consultation can be seen by any of the specialists at the Penn Lung Center for a second opinion or disease management. The transplant staff helps coordinate the referral. Penn's transplant team is always available to discuss the candidacy of any prospective lung transplant patient. 

Communication with Referring Physicians 

Communication with referring physicians is a top priority for the Penn Lung Transplant Team. Referring physicians are called at the time of transplant and are updated on the patient's hospital course. Continuing communication regarding patient status is sent via letters at the time of follow-up office visits. Team members are also available via cell phone or e-mail to answer any questions or discuss a patient.

The Penn Transplant Institute is dedicated to serving as a resource for physicians and their patients. Penn's multidisciplinary team leads the region in the total number of transplants performed and is ranked among the top 10 multi-organ transplant centers in the country.

Initiating the Pancreas Evaluation Process

Records can be faxed or mailed to the Penn Transplant Institute:

Patients who do not meet the criteria for pancreas transplant consultation can be seen by any of the specialists at the Penn Transplant Institute for a second opinion or disease management. Transplant staff will help coordinate the referral. The Penn transplant team is always available to discuss the candidacy of any prospective transplant patient.

Communication with Referring Physicians,

Communication with referring physicians is a top priority for the Penn transplant team. Referring physicians are called at the time of transplant and are updated on the patient's hospital course. Continuing communication regarding patient status is sent via letters at the time of follow up office visits. Team members are also available via cell phone or email to answer any questions or discuss a patient.