Check out your Health Organ Transplant Program to achieve record-breaking milestones

For the sixth year in a row, Intermountain Health's Adult Transplant Program celebrates a record year in 2024, resulting in the saving of hundreds of people in the western Shan West through generous live organ donations from around the country.

Intermountain Health Adult Transplant Program, located at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, has successfully transplanted 489 organs in 2024a significant increase since 414 transplants in 2023. This represents more than 200% growth over the past five years, which has saved more than twice as many lives as in the western part of Shanxi.

These ports have had a major impact and transformed hundreds of lives thanks to short waiting times and the use of new technology.

Among these implants:

• 267 It was a kidney transplant, marking a growth of 34% from last year and a growth of 214% five years ago.
• 189 Liver transplants rose from 182 the previous year, representing a 385% growth compared to 2018.
• 4 It was kidney/pancreas transplant
• 29 It was a life-saving heart transplant

Intermountain Health's kidney transplant program has one of the shortest waiting times in the nation. 109 days From active listings to ports compared to many other programs in the country that have an average waiting time of 3-5 years.

“Because of our ability to accept organs that other programs cannot use, we can do this safely and achieve the best results in the nation,” says Donald Morris, Intermountain Health Kidney Transplant Medical Director. “This success comes from the expertise and experience of a team of nephrologists, surgeons and transplant caregivers paving the way for new organ acceptance practices in the United States, providing increased access to transplants.”

Thirty-two percent of Intermountain Health's new transplant patients came from areas outside of Utah, like Idaho and Nevada, which lack kidney transplant programs.

“Inter Mountain Health is one of the few programs operated in Mountain West, expanding services to areas that are not serving as the main focus of our efforts.” “Our mission is to provide access to patients' transplants wherever they live and ensure they receive the life-saving care they need.”

Intermountain Health's liver transplant program boasts one of the shortest waiting times in the nation. 22nd.

Intermountain Health's transplant program first used new, cutting-edge organ-saving devices last year to help maintain liver donated to physiological conditions close to in vitro, strengthening the success of transplants and helping more patients who need organs.

This new organ-saving technique used by Inter Mountain has helped Inter Mountain Health save valuable organs.

By adopting new cutting edge technology, the Intermountain Transplant programme grew by 385% between 2018 and 2024, making it the fourth fastest growing liver programme in the country, superior to national results and the fastest waiting time for a liver transplant.

The liver transplant program saw 2,760 new cases last year, with 41% of whom came from outside of Utah.

In fact, 92 liver transplants performed over the past year were aimed at patients who came from areas outside of Utah and mostly from Idaho. The program recognizes needs and expands to Nevada, Wyoming and Montana. Recent data shows that mortality from liver disease is high and the lowest per capita transplant rate in the US.

“This unprecedented growth in organ transplantation, and now it will be one of the largest transplant companies and liver transplant programs in the United States, reflecting both the behavior of exceptional interdisciplinary teams and the generosity of the growing community who understand the importance of organ donation, Liver Transplant Medical Director.

“However, the inability to access transplants for Mountain West residents has been around five years ago compared to access in California and Northeastern states. Our institutional leaders and our team understood this, and the organ donation community designed a system in which Idaho and Utah residents provide the highest liver transplant rates.

“Although other places may continue to be barriers to accessing life-saving transplants, our vision and commitment will soon see geography being eliminated as a barrier to life saved across the mountain peak,” added Dr. Gilroy.

In the United States, there are more than 103,000 people awaiting a life-saving organ transplant, including the kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart and lungs. Every eight minutes, others will be added to the national waiting list. In Utah, 956 people are on their waiting list. Organ donors can save up to eight lives.

Over the past 40 years, the Intermountain Heart Transplant Program has grown into a national model and is recognized as a national center of excellence.

“It's rewarding and exciting to be one of the best cardiac programs in the country, including high quality results including one-year post-heart patient survival,” said Mary Lamira Laeti, M.D., Medical Director of Intermountain Heart Transplant and Artificial Heart Program at Intermountain Medical Center.

Intermountain is considered a leading national program under its Life-for-Life program. This is a national kidney registration program that transplants highly matched life kidney donors from a domestic pool.

Social Media Kidneys

Tom McLelland, Provo, 64 knows firsthand how kidney programs work.

Three years ago, his family joined social media in the hopes of helping him find his father in a new kidney. McClelland's diabetes caused him to suffer kidney failure, and was overwhelmed by dialysis three times a week.

Almost 20 family members and friends were tested, but it was not a match. A social media page called “Tom's Kidneys” brought hope.

My daughter shared a post with someone from Tennessee. He shared it with his sister. She said, “I felt a movement inside her to do something.” She was not a match either, but after months of testing, she donated her kidneys on behalf of McClelland, slamming him on the waiting list, congratulating not one but two families.

Just 10 months later, on July 27, 2023, McClelland won a new kidney and a new lease at Inter Mountain Medical Center from someone he hadn't met yet.

McClelland says he is currently camping, enjoying the outdoors and works in the gym four to five times a week. Most importantly, instead of seeing the fun of family activities, he is now fully engaged and actively involved. He looks forward to celebrating his next “re-birthday” this year.

“Because of social media, I have new friends, new kidneys, new life,” McClelland said. “It only takes one person and one kidney, but many of us consider and share what we are asking, and share.”

To learn more about organ donation or register to become an organ donor, intermountainhealthcare.org/donatelife.