Erin Wathen, 7, one of this year’s American Heart Association’s Heart Walk participants, runs with her brother Stephen, 11. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Transplant Center receives top awards
Clients of transplant services across the country have chosen the Vanderbilt Transplant Center as the top choice in two categories in a recent survey.
The United Resources Networks recently announced the winners of its first annual Client Choice Awards. The awards are based on responses from a client survey that examined specific attributes of the medical centers that participate in the United Resource Networks Transplant Network.
Awards were presented in three categories: administrative ease, communications, and lodging assistance.
Vanderbilt’s Transplant Center ranked No. 1 in both administrative ease and communications.
The awards are an appropriate way to recognize the efforts and hard work of the Transplant Center team, according toDr. C. Wright Pinson, professor of Surgery and surgical director of the center.
“Most significantly, all the transplant nurse coordinators, social workers, administrative assistants and financial counselors in the programs of the transplant center should feel great pride in this award,” he said.
“It confirms their excellent service to our clients. Recognition for Yvonne Moneypenny, Transplant Center administrator, is in order.
“She is both an excellent administrator and communicator and helps to set a standard for others.
“Carol Eck, RN, MBA, Anne Underhill, RN, MBA and Al Lowe contribute to the administrative excellence of the Transplant Center as well. Finally, the physicians and program directors in transplantation deserve credit for these awards.”
Although Vanderbilt did not garner an award in lodging assistance, it recognizes the need for housing.
This year the Transplant Center, along with the Vanderbilt Ingram-Cancer Center, announced plans to collaborate with Hospital Hospitality House to expand housing options for transplant patients.
Vanderbilt’s capital campaign will help fund the construction of a four-level building as well as support renovation and expansion of the existing structure located on Reidhurst Avenue. The 46-unit, $2.5 million housing facility will serve transplant patients and their families.
The Transplant Network, which has 146 transplant programs within 54 medical centers across the country, is the nation’s leading transplant network. United Resource Networks is the single largest referral source in the United States, managing more than 4,500 transplant patients each year.