Your Lung Transplant Medical Team at University of Colorado Hospital
Our team approach to transplantation provides the best possible care and outcomes for our patients. Our lung transplant team includes a multidisciplinary group that specializes in pulmonary (lung related) care and transplantation. Your evaluation will include appointments with each team member to ensure that you receive the highest level of care before, during and after your transplant.
Lung Transplant Specialists: Core Medical Team
Pulmonologist – A doctor specifically trained in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease. The pulmonologist will care for your lung related medical problems before and after transplant.
Cardiothoracic Surgeon (Transplant Surgeon) – A doctor specifically trained in cardiac (heart) and thoracic (chest) surgery. This is the doctor who performs your transplant.
Transplant Nurse Coordinator – A registered nurse specially trained in transplantation who will provide you with information about each stage of the transplant experience. One of the nurse coordinators will notify you when you are placed on the list and when a lung becomes available for you. They also will arrange your follow-up care after you are discharged from the hospital. A transplant nurse coordinator is on call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist – A specialist who will work with you to develop an exercise program designed especially for you. You will begin a rehabilitation program as soon as you are listed for transplant.
Transplant Nurses – Registered nurses who are specially trained to care for transplant patients. They provide your care in the hospital and teach you everything you need to know to care for yourself once you return home.
Additional Lung Transplant Medical Specialists
Depending on your individual needs, any one, or all, of the following specialists also may be involved in your care.
Anesthesiologist – A doctor trained to administer medication that will put you to sleep and monitor you throughout your surgery.
Infectious Disease Specialist – A doctor who specializes in treating diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi.
Immunologist – A doctor who treats disorders of the immune system.
Pathologist – A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope. All biopsies will be read by a pathologist.
Psychiatrist – A doctor who helps people overcome emotional and psychological reactions to an injury or disease. The psychiatrist will meet with you and your family during the evaluation. Depending on your individual needs, you may or may not have additional consultations with the psychiatrist before or after your transplant.
Other Lung Transplant Staff
Financial Coordinator – Discusses options for payment with you and your family, communicates with your insurance company prior to your transplant (if necessary) and answers billing questions after your transplant.
Nutritionist or Registered Dietitian – A professional trained to prevent and treat disease through the use of individual nutrients found in food and supplements. Your nutritional needs may change immediately after your transplant and again after your recovery. The transplant nutritionist meets with you during your hospitalization and in the clinic to help you maintain a healthy diet.
Social Worker – Provides you with emotional support, assistance with housing and discharge planning and a variety of other services as needed. The transplant social worker meets you during your evaluation and is available to you and your family at any time throughout the transplant experience.