Penn State Health announced Monday that it has voluntarily suspended its liver transplant program at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center pending a performance review by representatives of the Organ Sharing Network. Penn State Health has restarted its liver transplant program since restarting it about a year ago. Clinical performance data and other information are being submitted to UNOS to monitor the program's progress. The decision to suspend the program came after concerns were identified regarding clinical processes and documentation. The Penn State Department of Health said it has notified 63 patients who are on waiting lists or receiving treatment. “I'm a survivor. This is not the way to live,” he said. He received a call on Saturday morning. “I went into a deep depression. I was going to say it's over. I'm tired of fighting for it,” he said. It's been a tough road for Geiter, going back to 2021 when he received his first liver transplant. “I woke up one day and I was literally the size of a house. I was rushed to the hospital. I had to remove 15 pounds of fluid,” he said. Mr. Geiter continues to face medical issues, and as a result, Dr. Geiter said, “everyday life is a challenge just getting out of bed.” The Penn State Department of Health said it is working with other liver transplant centers to facilitate the transition of care. But Dr. Geiter wants answers. “I just want to know why.” They keep being shut down, so how is this still the case? “We cannot continue to allow other people to experience such turmoil,” he said.
The Pennsylvania State Department of Health announced Monday that it has voluntarily suspended the liver transplant program at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center pending a performance review by representatives of the United Network for Organ Sharing.
Since restarting the liver transplant program about a year ago, the Penn State Department of Health has submitted clinical performance data and other information to UNOS to monitor the program's progress.
The decision to suspend the program was made after concerns regarding clinical processes and documentation were identified.
The Penn State Department of Health said it has notified 63 patients who are on waiting lists or are being tested.
One of those patients is Troy Geiter.
“I'm a survivor. This is not the way to live,” he said.
He received a call on Saturday morning.
“I went into a deep depression. I was going to say it's over. I'm tired of continuing to fight,” he said.
It's been a tough road for Geiter, going back to 2021 when he received his first liver transplant.
“I woke up one day and it was literally the size of a house. I was rushed to the hospital. I had to remove 15 pounds of fluid,” he said.
Geiter continues to face medical issues that have resulted in the need for another transplant.
“Everyday life is a challenge just getting up,” Gaiter said.
The Penn State Department of Health said it is working with other liver transplant centers to facilitate the transition of care.
But Geiter wants answers.
“I just want to know why it keeps shutting down. What's the situation that keeps happening? There's no way the same things keep happening to other people. Other people living lives of such chaos and confusion. “I can’t continue,” he said.
