Penn State Medical Center suspends kidney transplants

HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – Penn State Health has announced it will suspend kidney transplant surgeries at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center for two weeks.

Penn State Health said the decision was made following meetings with the National Organ Donor Network and the recent suspension of liver transplants at Hershey Medical Center. Other transplant programs, including heart, stem cell and bone marrow transplants, are operating normally.

The hospital has 98 patients on its kidney transplant list.

Penn State Health says its kidney and liver transplant programs have a 100% patient survival rate beyond 2023.

“We are taking this action as we work with UNOS to review the current organizational structure of our Liver and Kidney Program,” Penn State Health said in a statement Friday afternoon. “We will notify patients currently on the kidney transplant list of this decision and will assist patients who wish to transfer to or be co-listed with other transplant programs in doing so promptly.”

Patients who have already received transplants will continue to receive post-transplant care.