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The CMN National Organ Transplant Network
The science of human organ transplantation has been advanced dramatically in recent years. However, the procedural and financial aspects of the transplant process remain daunting. Realizing this, CMN set out to create the nation's premier organ transplant network, seeking to combine excellent care and ease of access with the best possible financial arrangements.

The resultant CMN National Organ Transplant Network contains nearly 160 facilities, including many of America's most acclaimed institutions. Collectively, Network facilities perform all recognized single and multiple organ transplant procedures. A list of those procedures is provided below:


  • Bone Marrow
  • (Allogenic / Autologous / MUD / Peripheral Blood Stem)
  • Cornea
  • Heart
  • Heart/Liver
  • Heart/Lung
  • Kidney
  • Kidney/Pancreas
  • Pancreas
  • Liver
  • Liver/Kidney
  • Liver/Small Intestine
  • Split Liver
  • Related Liver
  • Lung (Single/Double)
  • Multi-visceral
  • Intestinal


CMN Transplant Network

USA
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
  • Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
  • USC Hospital, Lost Angeles, CA
  • Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, L.A.
  • Western Medical Center, Santa Ana, CA
  • Albany Medical Center, Albany NY
  • Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
  • Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC
CANADA

  • University Health Network Toronto, ON

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CMN Transplant Network
Provider Profile
The Methodist Hospital
Houston, Texas


The Methodist Hospital, one of only a handful in Texas recognized by The Best Hospitals in America, is among the country's largest non-profit health-care providers. Its medical staff, meanwhile, include dozens of physicians listed in The Best Doctors in America.

Certified by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Methodist is a leader in such specialties as:


The Multi-Organ Transplant Center was established to create the optimal environment for solid organ and tissue transplantation at Baylor College of Medicine and, specifically, The Methodist and Texas Children's Hospitals. The Transplant Center is a unique organization that spans departmental and section lines, allowing efficient utilization of necessary personnel, college and hospital resources. Our mission is to:

  1. Provide the highest quality of care to patients being evaluated for, or receiving, organ and tissue transplants;
  2. Advance the art and science of organ and tissue transplantation by performing clinical and basic research relevant to organ and tissue transplantation, and;
  3. Educate physicians, surgeons, nurses, other medical personnel and the public, about organ and tissue transplantation.


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The Transplant Experience

There are five phases in the transplant experience. It is important to remember that you and your family member will go through these phases in your own way.

Phase I: The Evaluation Period

During the first phase, the evaluation period, you will undergo a series of tests and procedures, some of which may be unpleasant. You may have just learned that you need a transplant. You will feel frightened and anxious or you may feel relief if you have been searching for a treatment for an illness that has lasted for a long time and has only gotten worse with time.

You will begin to adjust to hospital routines, such as appointments, new diet changes, and medications. You will be given much information to learn quickly, which might cause you to feel overloaded.

As stress in your life and on your family increases, you may feel more anger, denial, guilt and grief. These are normal feelings. It is helpful to know that family members feel stress also and often cope in different ways and at different times.

Phase II: The Waiting Period

The second part of transplantation, the waiting period, may be the hardest part of your journey, as you and your family feel as if your life is "put on hold." It is important to try to maintain a normal routine and live life to the fullest during this time. Your health may be declining, but you can help take care of yourself by taking medications as prescribed, keeping medical appointments and staying as physically active as possible. You will face adjustments as every area of your life is affected by the possibility of a transplant. Others may take on duties that you can no longer carry out. Financial changes are likely as medical expenses increase and you may no longer be able to work.

Your life may begin to feel like it revolves around transplant surgery. You will wear your beeper at all times and keep regular contact with your transplant coordinator. If you do not live near the Medical Center, you may need to find closer housing. You will have to plan for transplantation to and from appointments.

Although transportation brings hope, it may also bring thoughts of death. It is important to talk about these feelings with your family. You will want to consider a will, a Directive to Physician, and a Durable Power of Attorney. The Directives to Physicians are written communications to your doctor about medical decisions you want to make. There are forms you may complete that will help you make your decisions.

 Phase III: The Day of the Surgery

The third phase of the transplant experience is finally here. The day of surgery can make you feel both happy and fearful. It may be difficult for your family and loved ones who are waiting during the long hours of surgery. The transplant coordinator will be there to help you with questions and concerns. The medical staff will want your family to choose one person to communicate information about your condition.

Phase IV: The Hospital Stay

Your recovery process begins with your stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the hospital. Physical and emotional "ups and downs" are common during the hospital stay. Use caution when you compare yourself too closely to other transplant patients, because every patient's experience will be different.

While in the ICU, strict routines and visiting hours can be very frustrating for you and your family. Drugs, lack of sleep and constant activity may cause temporary changes in your behavior. This can be hard on family members. Your family is under much stress and should try to stay rested and eat well. This is a time to ask other family members and friends to help.

You may find yourself thinking about your new organ a lot. You may worry about how your organ is working and about rejection. Different feelings about your donor may come up, including gratitude, guilt, sadness and curiosity. This is all a normal part of accepting a new organ.

 Phase V: Getting on With Your Life

Finally you are ready to leave the hospital. Getting on with your life can be frightening. The hospital can feel like a very safe place. There will be many changes in your life and new responsibilities for your health. You will be taking medications and seeing your doctor for the rest of your life. However, you will also be discovering more energy as your health improves. You may return to work and other activities that are important to you. Sometimes, as your life becomes more normal, old issues may come up that you now want to deal with. Although transplantation is stressful, it can also be an opportunity for personal growth and bringing families closer.

Other Psychosocial Issues

Additional issues may affect you during the transplant experience. Having a chronic illness causes physical and emotional changes that can affect many areas of life, including sexuality. Changes can take place in hormones, circulation, nerve functioning and energy level. These changes may lower sexual interest and/or sexual ability. Physical changes may cause people with chronic illness to feel less attractive sexually. The use of steroids may cause weight gain, acne and unwanted hair growth or loss. Surgical scars can cause you to feel unattractive.

Your doctor can answer medical questions about sexual function. Social workers are available to discuss the emotional aspects of sexual function. Sexuality includes many factors such as how people feel about themselves, how they communicate with others, and how willing they are to build a relationship. In addition, sexuality involves a wide range of pleasurable sexual activities that may or may not include intercourse, such as touching, hugging and kissing. Feeling worried, anxious and depressed is normal when faced with a serious illness. These emotions can cause loss of energy and low interest in many activities, including sex. If a sexual problem does occur, embarrassment and guilt often follow. Fear that the problem will recur may cause the person to shy away from sexual situations. Relaxation exercises can help to control these fears. If sexual problems continue, sex therapy can help. Your doctor can provide information and options for treating physical problems.

 Relaxation As a Way of Coping With Stress

Your social worker can assist you with teaching ways of coping with the stress of a serious illness. Techniques such as relaxation, mental imaging, etc., can be helpful. Remember that these techniques are skills, and skills improve with practice.

Relaxation Exercise
  1. Assume a comfortable sitting position with your hands in your lap and your legs uncrossed.
  2. Close your eyes and take deep breaths so that you are not concerned with activity around you.
  3. Relax all muscles. Start with your toes and move up to your knees. To your hips, etc., all the way up to each muscle to the top of your head. If you cannot determine when your muscles are relaxed, tighten each and then let it go. See how different a clenched fist feels from a relaxed fist.
  4. When you finish, sit quietly. Open your eyes but remain relaxed for a few more minutes.
 Vocational Rehabilitation

As a transplant patient, getting back to life involves regaining your health, maintaining a positive outlook and having meaningful personal relationships. For you, your job may be what makes you feel useful.

After your transplant, you may not be able to return to previous employment or may not be able to work full-time. There are programs that can help you find, keep or change your job. For example, your state's vocational rehabilitation program can assist you. Counselors help you to determine career interest and abilities. The purpose of state vocational rehabilitation is to help handicapped individuals who have physical or mental disabilities secure and maintain jobs. A medical release is required from your doctor to participate in this program.

 Summary

Like any major life event, the transplant experience can be both difficult and rewarding. You may discover new strengths in yourself as you face the challenge of transplant. Part of this challenge is to learn to recognize when you are going through difficult times, and to ask for help from your significant others and members of the transplant team. Although it is not problem-free, the hope of transplantation is to help you enjoy a longer and healthier life. Let us help you realize that hope.

International Patient Services at The Methodist Hospital is a full-service program dedicated to meeting the special needs of international patients, their families, and their personal physicians.

International patients treated at The Methodist Hospital benefit from the combined expertise of highly skilled medical and nursing personnel at the forefront of patient care, scientific research, and state-of-the-art technology. Through Methodist's International Patient Services (IPS) program, international patients and visitors have access to:
  • More than 2,000 physicians covering all adult specialties and subspecialties.
  • The premier services and facilities of The Methodist Hospital.


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