Heart Transplant Services

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Questions about northern Indiana’s only heart transplant program? Call (260) 435-6275 or email transplant@lhn.net.

Lutheran Hospital’s heart transplant team understands that deciding which heart transplant program is right for you is an important decision. Our experienced team delivers clinical knowledge, emotional support and ongoing education before, during and after a heart transplant. This care is available close to home for patients across northern Indiana, northwest Ohio and southern Michigan.

Learn more about our quality outcomes.

Multidisciplinary Care
Heart transplant patients are cared for by a healthcare team who coordinates ongoing treatment and support through each step of the transplant journey. This team is led by board-certified specialists with extensive experience in innovative cardiac care:

These physicians and their patients are supported by a network of individuals, including:

• Transplant coordinator
• Social worker
• Financial coordinator
• Pharmacist
• Dietitian
• Cardiopulmonary rehab therapist
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Speech therapist

First Steps to Heart Transplant

When medications and therapies are no longer effective in treating advanced heart failure or certain other heart conditions, the next step may be a heart transplant. Heart transplants are considered the gold standard treatment for advanced heart failure due to high survival rates and improved quality of life.

A pre-evaluation enables patients to learn more about heart transplant services and allows the transplant team to determine if the procedure will be beneficial. The evaluation consists of specialized testing and consultations with members of the heart transplant team.

• The transplant coordinator arranges the evaluation and provides education.
• The heart transplant social worker provides a psychosocial evaluation and counseling.
• The dietitian provides nutritional evaluation and counseling.
• The financial coordinator reviews each patient's insurance and financial responsibilities.

The transplant center's Medical Review Board reviews each completed evaluation to determine if the patient will benefit from transplantation. In some cases, further testing or consultation is required. Patients approved for heart transplant can then decide if they want to be placed on the waiting list for a donor heart.

Heart Transplant/VAD Referral and New Evaluation Form

Interested in attending the Heart Transplant/VAD Support Group? Visit our events page.