HomeVeterans Guide to VA HealthcareWhat Healthcare Services Does the VA Provide?Transplant Centers

2.4. Transplant Centers

Solid organ (kidney, kidney/pancreas, liver, heart, heart/lung, and lung) and bone marrow/stem cell transplants are an important, life- saving procedure provided to eligible veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA Transplant Centers are located across the country and have offered solid organ transplant services since 1962 and bone marrow transplant services since 1982. The VA National Transplant Program (VA Program) received over 1,500 referrals last year and performed approximately 400 transplants.

The transplant referral process has several steps and begins at the primary VA medical center where the patient is enrolled and eligibility is determined. If the veteran is determined to be a potential transplant candidate by the local VA medical center, a transplant referral packet is prepared locally and submitted to the VA Program located in Washington, DC. Questions regarding this process can be directed to the VA Program at 202.461.7130 or 1.800.60.HEART.

Over 100,000 men, women, and children are currently listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) national waiting list. Those veterans listed through the VA Transplant Centers are part of that same waiting list. Every 12 minutes another name is added to the list and an average of 18 people die each day because there are not enough organs available in this country. VA encourages all veterans, their families, and VA employees to become an organ donor by signing a donor card, identifying yourself as an "organ donor" in your state, e.g., joining your state donor registry, notice on driver's license; and discussing your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor with your family.

VA Transplant Centers are located at:

Bone Marrow

Kidney

Liver

Heart

Lung

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