Pediatric lung transplantation: an emerging program

Success has many measures, and team members each have personal criteria, but the success of our program is measured in the lives of our patients. To this end, every person associated with the program had a sense of ownership in it. It was imperative, in overcoming resistances, to treat people as individuals with valuable input, involve those affected in the planning, and provide complete and accurate information. Every person understood the process as a team effort. No one person acted alone, although key persons orchestrated the efforts of many. The instruments used were team building, communication, commitment, and collaboration. Problems and resultant pressures were viewed as challenges and opportunities for growth. When mistakes were made, we tried to learn from them, support each other, and move forward. Emphasis was on accomplishments, strengths, and unrealized potential. We learned from each other and from our patients. A close-knit team is an essential component of a successful program. The team is composed of professionals as active participants with mutual goals and a common purpose. Each member brings unique expertise, insights, personality, and experience in a cooperative venture to exchange information, identify problems, and reach a consensus. Time acts as a catalyst for members to learn to respect and appreciate each other. Cohesiveness evolves in a climate of acceptance, flexibility, and understanding. Members support and help each other. Consumers are involved with team members to participate in planning for care. In the space of 1 year, in spite of initial chaos from the Ready! Fire! Aim! approach, we have developed a sophisticated, comprehensive program for children with end-stage lung disease that can grow from a solid foundation. As we approach the second year and gain experience, we continue to evaluate our results and refine our aim.