Transplant Benefits
People who suffer from type 1 diabetes are dependent on insulin to manage their disease because their own pancreas does not produce it. Often, they can suffer from severe complications due to their disease. By transplanting a healthy insulin-producing pancreas into their bodies, they can often stop taking insulin and avoid the complications that come from type 1 diabetes. There are several benefits of pancreas transplantation:
- Elimination of severe blood sugar fluctuations
- Improved quality of life
- Normal diet
- Increased activity level
- Diabetic complications such as cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and eye disease may also be prevented or improved.
- Simultaneous pancreas kidney (SPK) transplant patients often enjoy a longer life for their kidney transplant compared to a kidney alone.
About Us
Intermountain Transplant Services performed the first pancreas transplant in the Western United States in 1986 and has helped shape the future of pancreas transplantation as a treatment for type 1 diabetes.
Since the inception of our program, we've performed approximately 230 transplants. Intermountain's Pancreas Transplant Program has much shorter waiting times than the national average and provides better one-year outcomes.
Our success is due to the efforts of our transplant team: transplant nephrologists, surgeons, transplant coordinators, critical care specialists, pathologists, radiologists, infectious disease experts, and skilled nursing staff.
Our Team
Patients
You should be the ultimate decision maker in directing your care. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Tell us what you want. Speak up if you notice physical changes or problems. Let us know if you’re in pain or if you’re concerned about something. We also ask that you follow through on treatments and recommendations made by other members of the team.Physicians
Our experienced board-certified doctors and mid-level providers will help manage your daily physical care, perform procedures and coordinating with other consulting specialists.Dietitian
A dietitian will help you maintain a healthy diet that will prepare you for transplant and give your body the calories and nutrition it needs to heal.Transplant Pharmacist
A pharmacist specializing in caring for transplant patients will instruct you about the transplant medications, side effects, and how to take the medications.Social Workers
Our social workers can provide emotional support to patients and families. They can help you cope with stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss. They can also help connect you with community resources, housing and spiritual support.Financial Coordinator
The financial coordinator handles all billing and financial issues for both the patient and donor. They work closely with insurance companies to figure out benefits and request authorization. They can also help identify financial assistance options and handles all billing and financial issues.Nurses
You will see nurses both in the clinic and during your hospital stay. They will assist with your daily care, assess symptoms and side effects, manage medication administration and provide education about your plan of care.Our Facility
Outpatient Clinic
Intermountain Transplant Services is located on the third floor of the Eccles Outpatient Care Center (Building 2) at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. The clinic is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Inpatient Hospital Unit
Following surgery, most transplant patients recover on the 10th floor of the patient tower (Building 5) at Intermountain Medical Center.Each inpatient room has a fold-out bed for a caregiver to stay in if desired. All rooms have a television and DVD player, and there is a large selection of DVDs available to borrow on the unit.
There is free wireless internet access available in all of our patient rooms and throughout the hospital. Just log in to the “Intermountain_Guest” network and agree to the terms of use.
Intermountain Medical Center is located in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley and is the largest structure in the area. Rooms boast beautiful and unimpeded views of the Wasatch mountains to the east and the Oquirrh mountains to the west.