by Matt Batcheldor
Patients and providers now have instant access to Tennessee’s only full-service transplant center on their smartphones and mobile devices.
The Vanderbilt Transplant Center has debuted a new free app available for iOS and Android devices, available by searching “VUMC transplant” in the respective app store.
The app is designed to be a resource for transplant information at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for both patients and providers. It helps patients find information about transplant programs as well as educational links about transplantation. Patients can customize what organ they are interested in learning more about, meet the transplant team and find provider locations. Living donor information is also available as well as a living donor referral form.
“Development of this app will allow patients unprecedented ability to connect with our system, schedule appointments and interact with our providers,” said Seth Karp, MD, H. William Scott Jr. Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery and director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center. “We have every expectation this service will increase our ability to reach patients and provide outstanding care.”
For providers, the app offers improved access in the referring process for both adult and pediatric referrals through mobile-friendly REDcap referral forms. The app gives referring physicians a secure and vetted process to contact the on-call VUMC transplant physicians to enable better communication. The app also has a direct link to call the VUMC Transfer Center for urgent transfers of patients to VUMC facilities. Providers also have access to outcome data.
“The Vanderbilt Transplant app is a significant addition for our referring providers to access the transplant center,” said Edward Zavala, MBA, Transplant Center Administrator.
“Additionally, the patient education component of the app provides patients ready access to transplant-specific education.”
The Vanderbilt Transplant Center is the South’s premier transplant center, providing more chances for patients to participate in clinical trials and studies, as well as access to other specialists. Its transplant teams have performed more than 9,500 solid organ transplants since 1962, including all the major organs — heart, kidney, lung, liver and pancreas.
“We are so excited to provide this resource for both our patients and referring providers,” said Michele Hesselrode, MMHC, principal business and strategy analyst, Section of Surgical Sciences. “I appreciate VUMC leadership’s support in our efforts to improve access and communication.”
