Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1476559
of the program's adult kidney transplant patients received a transplant within two years of listing compared with a national average of 25.7%, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). The program's trans- plant success rates equal, and in many cases surpass, national averages, accord- ing to the SRTR and United Network for Organ Sharing. "Transplant is perhaps the most highly specia lized f ield in medicine," says Reza Saidi, MD, FACS, FICS, Chief of Transplantation at Upstate University Hospita l a nd A ssociate Professor of Surgery at Upstate Medical University. "Patients require extensive evaluation a nd workup not just from a medica l standpoint, but also from psychosocial, dieta r y, f ina ncia l a nd postoperative standpoints. This is why we have a large, multidisciplinary transplant team of more than 40 clinicians and other professionals. Nursing is an integral component." D e d ic a t e d t o he lpi n g de t er m i ne patients' candidacy and to educating and shepherding them through a years-long continuum of care, the 14-person nursing team — half of whom are master's-pre- pared — includes seven RN transplant coordinators. Three of the transplant coordinators are certified by the American Board for Transplant Certification; the remaining four are currently pursuing certification in clinical transplant coor- dination. These transplant coordinators serve as patient advocates, navigators, liaisons and educators along every step of the transplant process. "Nurses are at the center of everything," says Ja nine Morris, EdD, MPH, R N, Administrator at the Upstate Transplant Program. "They establish contact with patients following referral, and explain and help patients navigate the process for getting waitlisted. If difficulties arise, nurses help patients obtain what they need to continue moving toward waitlisting. Our nurses have a deep knowledge of the multidisciplinary team, and they know when another member of the team, such as a social worker or pharmacist, is best positioned to help with a specific issue." FROM REFERRAL TO LISTING From the moment patients enter the Upstate Transplant Program's care, a pre-transplant nurse coordinator starts building a relationship with them. "The best word to describe the trans- plant coordinator's role is 'advocate,'" says Ga lina Rivera, BSN, R N, CCTC, Transplant Coordinator at the Upstate Transplant Program. "We advocate for patients in all phases of the transplant process. We get to know patients deeply a nd comprehensively, whereas other members of the multidisciplinary team may only see patients through the lens of their area of expertise." For prospective organ recipients, the tra nspla nt process beg ins following referral from a specialist in the commu- nity or dialysis center. Patients attend a two-hour virtua l education session with the pre-transplant coordinator, a nephrologist and other members of the multidisciplinary team. "Once patients complete their pre-eval- uation education session, they make an in-person visit to our clinic for a medical intake appointment that includes meeting with the pre-tra nspla nt coordinator and other members of the team," Rivera says. " We discuss a l l a spects of t he requirements to be listed for transplant. Afterward, the pre-transplant coordi- nator helps facilitate any testing that patients need, such as cardiac testing, imaging or a colonoscopy. If necessary, we Transplant patient Martell Taylor (center) with Transplant Coordinator Lavell Jones, MSN, RN, CCTC, and Dr. Reza Saidi, surgeon, chief of the Transplant Clinic and associate professor of surgery at Upstate Medical University. Transplant Coordinator Ashely Ryan BSN, RN, and Transplant Nurse Practitioner Reeba Thankachan, MS, NP-C. M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A L N E W Y O R K n 2 0 2 2 0 7