Lung Transplantation

Contact Us

 

Norton Thoracic Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is home to one of the busiest and most successful lung transplant programs in the world. Our reputation for putting patients first and getting the best results inspires unparalleled confidence in every area of our care. 

To date, we have performed over 1,200 lung transplants, achieving that distinction faster than any other center in the country. With an average waitlist time of only 2 weeks (compared to 2 months among other centers) and industry-leading outcomes near 90%, it’s no wonder the most difficult and complex cases continue to seek the Norton out. 

Faster waitlist: Our average waitlist time is only two weeks, compared to two months among other centers.

More patients into transplant: 93% of patients that joined the waitlist received a transplant, unheard of among other leading centers.

Leading outcomes: We consistently provide one the highest post-transplant survival rates in comparison to the other top volume centers in the country, easily besting the national average.

 

Ross Bremner, MD, PhD  Executive Director, Norton Thoracic Institute

“Our lung transplant program is now one of the largest in the country. In spite of our rapid growth, our primary goal has never wavered: We continue to strive for exceptional outcomes, providing world-class care to patients with thoracic diseases.”

 

Why Get A Lung Transplant?

Lung transplants are among the most complicated surgical procedures, and patients require a lifetime of care. However, lung transplants can dramatically improve the quality of life of a patient. Lung transplant patients must receive lifelong care after the transplant, which includes daily medications to prevent organ rejection and regular check-ups with lung transplant specialists.  Lung transplantation is a viable treatment option for patients with end-stage lung diseases. Some of the more common causes include:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema

  • Scarring of the lungs, also known as pulmonary fibrosis

  • Cystic fibrosis

  • High blood pressure in the lungs, also known as pulmonary hypertension

Benefits Of A Lung Transplant

A lung transplant can be the best treatment for patients with end-stage lung disease. People who have a lung transplant find that they have more energy for everyday activities and look forward to increased time with family and friends.

Enhanced “Patient Care” Amenities

We take pride in elevating the patient experience to the next level. Our transplant patients receive personalized care from a multi-disciplinary team of pulmonologists, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, psychiatrists and financial coordinators. Each patient is assigned a registered nurse transplant coordinator, who guides the individual through the transplant process-evaluation, waiting period, surgery and recovery. We provide life-long follow-up care for all of our transplant recipients.

  • Concierge level service

  • 24/7 physician accessibility

  • Direct to physician consults

  • Housing for patients

  • RN Navigator

  • Dedicated transplant financial coordinators

  • COE with major payors

Learn More

For more information on the lung transplant program at Norton Thoracic Institute at St. Joseph’s, please call a care coordinator today.  Ensuring the best possible outcomes for your patients is our team's top priority in our role as your transplant experts. By collaborating closely, we can achieve great results together.

 

 

Norton Thoracic Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the busiest lung transplant program in the United States. Lung transplantation is a viable option for many patients with lung diseases. Lung transplants are among the most complicated surgical procedures, and these patients require lifelong care.

Lung transplantation is a viable option for many patients with lung diseases. Lung transplants are among the most complicated surgical procedures, and these patients require lifelong care. The lung transplant team at Norton Thoracic Institute completed 114 lung transplants in 2016.

Lung Transplantation Program – Key Statistics 

Norton's lung transplant team has performed more than 900 lung transplants for patients from more than 20 different states and two other countries ranging in age from 15 to 77 years old.

The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) ranked St. Joseph’s at the top of the list with a 5/5 quality score. SRTR uses a risk-adjusted assessment to evaluate how often patients are alive with a functioning transplanted organ one year after the transplant and then assigns a score of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). 

  • The average wait time for a lung transplant is 15 days
  • The hospital and 30-day mortality is extremely low
  • The one-year survival rate is close to 90%, above the national average

Lung Transplant Centers – Quality Care

At St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute, we believe that it is important to provide comprehensive care for patients, through every step of the lung transplant process. Our lung transplant team evaluates and prepares candidates for lung transplantation, procures donor organs, performs lung transplants and provides post-transplant care.

Before St. Joseph's lung transplant program was established in 2007, patients from Arizona traveled throughout the country for care. St. Joseph’s and the team at Norton Thoracic Institute provide world-class care right in our community. Post-transplant patients can feel a sense of comfort knowing that they can be treated close to home, should they need emergency care.

Learn More About Lung Transplants at St. Joseph's

For more information on the lung transplant program at St. Joseph's, please call (602) 406-8000

Referral Fax Line - 602.798.0463 - referral form

Lung Transplantation