It's normal to feel a wide range of emotions during the heart transplant process — from excitement and relief to frustration and sadness. These emotions can be exhausting.
Our experienced team understands what you are feeling and is here to help. We offer complete heart transplant support services for you and your caregivers to help ease stress and difficulty.
Heart Transplant Support Services at Penn Medicine
The Penn Heart Transplant Program has helped more than 1,500 people receive a new heart. As one of the nation's most experienced heart transplant programs, we know how to support our families. When you choose us, you benefit from:
- Frequent check-ins: We don't wait for you to call us. We check in with you routinely to find out how you are doing and how we can help.
- Caring professionals: Our social workers, financial counselors, nurses and other support staff have a singular goal — to help you achieve the best possible outcome.
- Comprehensive services: Whether you need someone to talk to or have a problem that might affect your transplant success, we can help.
Your Support Team
Your entire heart transplant team is focused on your health and wellbeing. Team members who have specific support roles include:
Social Workers
Our social workers are a constant presence for you throughout your heart transplant journey. They get to know you and provide comprehensive follow-up in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Social workers play a vital role in your care. They work closely with other transplant team members to identify your specific needs and check on you often. They listen to your concerns and priorities so they can find the best way to help, which may include:
- Advocating for you during the evaluation team meeting
- Connecting you to support services for any non-medical problems
- Helping you cope with the emotional challenges of heart transplantation and referring you to mental health resources, including our transplant psychiatrist if needed
- Responding rapidly if you have a personal crisis or need immediate assistance
Financial Counselors
You meet with a financial counselor during your heart transplant evaluation to review your insurance coverage and transplant costs. They provide an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs and other expenses, such as lodging and transportation.
Your financial counselor is available throughout the transplant process to help you troubleshoot financial problems or concerns.
Nutritionists
Our nutritionists are registered dietitians with expertise in the dietary needs of heart transplant patients. They meet with you at critical points in the transplant process to make sure your diet is aligned with your health needs.
Heart Transplant Support Services
Support services are part of the whole-person care approach we practice at Penn Medicine. We offer all types of guidance, including:
Financial Assistance
Financial stress can impact your emotional wellbeing and affect your health. Our team can connect you with resources to help relieve the financial burden of having a heart transplant. They can help you:
- Apply for social security disability benefits
- Find programs that help reduce medication costs
- Identify trusted organizations, such as Help Hope Live, that help you raise funds to cover out-of-pocket transplant costs
- Navigate your health insurance
- Resolve unexpected medical bills
- Sort out insurance issues and help you switch insurance, if necessary
Temporary Housing
If you live out of town, you and your family may need a place to stay. The Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House offers discounted rates and a home away from home atmosphere. There are also a variety of other options for housing accommodations for transplant patients to meet your individual needs.
Psychiatry
If your social worker identifies possible mental health or substance abuse issues, they refer you to a psychiatrist. Our transplant psychiatrists have deep experience assessing people undergoing a life-changing transplant.
Psychiatrists provide a detailed evaluation and recommendations for additional care. Your next steps may include medications, counseling or substance abuse treatment. Our social work team can connect you with the services you need.
Support Groups
Many heart transplant recipients and their caregivers benefit from connecting with others who know firsthand what they are going through. Penn social workers coordinate virtual support group meetings that provide patients hope and reassurance. You and your caregivers can attend support group meetings at any point before, during or after transplant.
Educational Events
The Penn heart transplant social work team coordinates periodic learning events for patients and their families. These events are virtual gatherings of the transplant community that provide education and support.
We tape the presentations and upload them to the Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO) Presentation Library. Examples of recent presentations include:
Nutrition Counseling
Eating well before and after heart transplant surgery can help you feel your best and promote recovery. Our nutritional counselors work with you to develop a diet plan tailored to your health needs and preferences.
Spiritual Care
Having major surgery can leave you feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. Our interfaith chaplains are available to listen and comfort you. If you prefer, they coordinate with your home clergy or connect you with a clergy member of your faith.
Advanced Directives
We encourage all patients to have an advanced directive, also known as a living will. This legal document allows you to appoint medical decision-makers and specifies your decisions about end-of-life care. You can also designate a power of attorney to oversee your financial affairs while you are hospitalized and recovering.
Writing to Your Donor's Family
Many patients want to connect with their donor's family. Our social workers give all patients information so they can write a letter at a time that feels right for them.
Often, we meet with patients and their families and read the letter out loud. This can be a cathartic activity and can help you process your heart transplant experience.
Transplant Blog
Our Transplant Update features news and information about the transplant programs at Penn Medicine. You'll find helpful information about all aspects of organ donation and what's new in the world of transplant medicine.
Make an Appointment
Please call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.