Pathologists Providing Direct Patient Care in Thoracic Transplant: Same Objective, Different Scope.

Area of Science:

• Transplant Pathology
• Patient Education
• Medical Humanities

Background:

• Cardiac and pulmonary allograft recipients have a unique need to understand their pathology.
• Patients frequently interact with laboratories for allograft surveillance.
• There is a demand for better patient comprehension of explanted organ pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address patient curiosity about explanted organs.
• To enhance patient understanding of transplant pathology.
• To raise awareness of the pathologist's role in ongoing transplant care.

Main Methods:

• The "On My Path" program facilitates pathologist-patient interactions.
• Interactions include private organ viewing and pathology discussions.
• Patients receive a 3D model of their explanted organ.

Main Results:

• 158 interactions documented from 2017-2022.
• Program involved cardiac (61%), lung (34%), and heart-lung (5%) transplant recipients.
• Coordinators reported increased patient understanding and emotional closure.

Conclusions:

• Direct pathologist-patient interaction is a feasible model for transplant recipients.
• 3D organ models empower patients and increase satisfaction.
• The program enhances understanding of pathology's role in transplant care.