Pennsylvania Department of Health Voluntarily Suspends Liver Transplant Program

HERSHEY, Pa. (WHTM) – The Penn State Department of Health is voluntarily suspending its liver transplant program. The decision is to enable the Center to undergo performance review by government representatives. Unified network for organ sharing.

“The decision to inactivate was made after concerns regarding clinical processes and documentation were identified,” a spokesperson for the Penn State Department of Health said in a written statement sent via email.

The Penn State Department of Health individually notified 63 patients on the waitlist or undergoing waitlist evaluations about the program's suspension. They said they are working with other liver transplant centers to help with the transition of care.

He added, “Penn State Medical Center will continue to provide post-transplant care for patients who have already received a liver transplant.”

Since restarting the liver transplant program about a year ago, the Penn State Department of Health has stated that “The Penn State Department of Health regularly submits clinical performance data and other information to UNOS to monitor the program's progress.'' ”.

The Penn State Department of Health said it will continue to work with the United Network for Organ Sharing to ensure the liver transplant program meets the needs of patients.

The program's suspension does not affect the Pennsylvania Department of Health's other transplant programs, including kidney, heart, stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

This is not the first time the Penn State Department of Health has voluntarily discontinued its transplant program.

“In an effort to improve, the Penn State Department of Health has announced that it will voluntarily discontinue its abdominal transplant program, which includes kidney and liver transplants, in April 2022, and then restart the program in March 2023.” a department spokesperson said.