NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For patients waiting on a major organ donation like a heart or lung, navigating the system can be overwhelming. Now, a new app is helping patients find what they're looking for.
After two years in development, Vanderbilt Transplant Center has a new app that gives patients and providers full access to Tennessee's only full-service transplant center.
Michele Hesselrode is the Principal Analyst. She says patients can schedule appointments and do their research, by customizing the organ they're interested in and the transplant team best suited to their needs.
Dr. Seth Karp is the Director of Vanderbilt's Transplant Center.
"We have 20,000 employees. Getting to the right one is hard," he said.
Dr. Karp says for patients in rural areas this app is a game-changer.
"If you look at a place like New York for example, there's a very good chance [patients] could get to a transplant center. About 25-percent of the patients will get to a center. But in Tennessee that's more like 10-percent," he said.
He says better access means better outcomes.
The app is free and available for IOS and Android devices. Click here for more information.
