Patients are referred to the Heart Transplant Program by their cardiologist or primary care physician when a heart transplant evaluation is necessary. An initial appointment is scheduled for the patient to meet with a transplant cardiologist and a transplant coordinator.

The transplant team needs to fully understand the patient's cardiac problems and the patient needs to learn more about a heart transplant and the evaluation process. By the end of this first visit the transplant cardiologist will make recommendations on whether to start a transplant evaluation.

The Transplant Evaluation

• Determine if the patient's heart is sick enough for a transplant. This may include a right heart catheterization, angiogram or cardiopulmonary exercise test.
• Evaluates non-cardiac medical condition and include an array of blood work, radiological tests, consults and exams.
• Assesses the patient's social circumstances. Patients meet with a social worker to examine their support, coping mechanisms, and finances.

The transplant evaluation usually takes several visits and may involve tests that require the patient to be hospitalized. The results of the evaluation provide the transplant team with information used to determine the risks and benefits of a transplant.

The heart transplant team evaluates and cares for patients in the transplant program. You will meet with all the team members during your transplant evaluation.

Once the transplant evaluation is complete, the transplant team members will review the information and make a recommendation on the patient's candidacy for transplant.