November 2023 Honoree
Liver Transplant Program
YURI GENYK MD • JULIET EMAMAULLEE, MD • ETESAMI KAMBIZ, MD • JIM KIM, MD • SHANNON ZIELSDORF, MD • ELIZABETH CARTER, MD • ROHIT KOHLI, MD • KEITH HAZLETON, MD • CHUAN-HAO LIN, MD • FOTINI MITSINIKOS, MD • SHREENA PATEL, MD • NISREEN SOUFI, MD • GEORGE YANNI, MD • COLLEEN BORKOVEC, RN BSN • MEGHAN DAWSON, RN BSN • ELIZABETH FARHAT, RN BSN • HOLLY NAGASUGI, RN BSN • KATHERINE CUNNINGHAM, LCSW • DIEU DIANA TRAN, RD • ELIZABETH SCOTT, RD • ILIANA MOSS, Ph.D • ROCHELLE MINDANAO, PharmD • NORMA HERRERA • OLGA DELGADO • STEPHANIE JOHNSON, RN, BSN, MBA • SHAUN KEEFER • JOHANNA ASHER BARTLETT, MD
The team has gone through some turnover in nursing and ancillary services staffing. Despite these staffing challenges, they have had the highest volume of liver transplants performed by any pediatric center in the nation by this team in 2022. This needed a collaborative, can-do attitude and spirit.
Recently, we were informed that the liver transplant program at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, was not going to be able to continue to offer liver transplant services. The Utah team reached out to us (looking at our volumes and best-in-class outcomes) to take over care of their listed patients. This includes one child who was in their ICU. The liver transplant team at CHLA, under the leadership of Ms. Johnson, rallied and worked tirelessly to get the child transferred safely to our ICU, urgently listed, and then successfully transplanted. The child is now back in Utah and doing well!
In taking care of children in the emergent setting of acute liver failure, we are challenged by a response time that is needed that pushes our nurse coordinator team to work in collaboration with the ICU, Hospitalists, in-patient nursing, social workers, nutritionists, financial councilors, transplant surgeons, and liver faculty and get the child on the liver transplant list as a Status 1A. In these situations, it is all hands-on deck and I have seen our fabulous team of nurse colleagues led by Ms. Johnson, do so without hesitation and with great empathy for the children that are being helped. This is not a one-time event but every time (~8-10 times a year) that we have to go through this process, and every time, I am amazed by how they go above and beyond to accomplish the tasks needed as fast as humanly possible.
They have led us to the #1 spot for liver transplant volumes in the country! It would be great for them to be recognized for their contributions to this powerhouse program's success.
Recently, we were informed that the liver transplant program at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, was not going to be able to continue to offer liver transplant services. The Utah team reached out to us (looking at our volumes and best-in-class outcomes) to take over care of their listed patients. This includes one child who was in their ICU. The liver transplant team at CHLA, under the leadership of Ms. Johnson, rallied and worked tirelessly to get the child transferred safely to our ICU, urgently listed, and then successfully transplanted. The child is now back in Utah and doing well!
In taking care of children in the emergent setting of acute liver failure, we are challenged by a response time that is needed that pushes our nurse coordinator team to work in collaboration with the ICU, Hospitalists, in-patient nursing, social workers, nutritionists, financial councilors, transplant surgeons, and liver faculty and get the child on the liver transplant list as a Status 1A. In these situations, it is all hands-on deck and I have seen our fabulous team of nurse colleagues led by Ms. Johnson, do so without hesitation and with great empathy for the children that are being helped. This is not a one-time event but every time (~8-10 times a year) that we have to go through this process, and every time, I am amazed by how they go above and beyond to accomplish the tasks needed as fast as humanly possible.
They have led us to the #1 spot for liver transplant volumes in the country! It would be great for them to be recognized for their contributions to this powerhouse program's success.
Thank you for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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