Quality and Outcomes Reports - Solid Organ Transplant
Post-transplant Length of Stay
Why we measure it - We realize how important it is to minimize a child's stay in the hospital. The time a child spends in the hospital is based on many factors including how serious the illness or injury is. Medical therapies can have a significant impact on patient recovery time and the length of time they stay in the hospital.
What this means - Patients receiving a heart transplant typically stay in the hospital less than two months post-transplant. Patients receiving a kidney transplant typically stay in the hospital for two weeks or less.
About the data - These data represent the median number of inpatient days post-transplant separated by organ type. National comparisons for length of stay do not currently exist for pediatric solid organ transplants.
Related dimensions of care:
What we're doing to provide the best care:
- Our 72-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is staffed by board-certified and pediatric-trained critical care specialists and anesthesiologists.
- Each patient has a transplant coordinator who closely manages the care before and after surgery.
- Children's Hospital's Solid Organ Transplant Program ranks in the top 25 percent of pediatric transplant programs for volume.
- We offer ABO-incompatible heart transplants, which decreases wait times and prevents wait-list deaths.
- Children's Hospital is one of the first centers with successful application of a virtual cross-match strategy for heart transplant patients. Virtual cross-match can lead to better outcomes and shorter wait-list times and allows transplant physicians to risk-stratify patients eligible for heart transplant. Collaborating with the BloodCenter of Wisconsin allows Children's Hospital to transplant more patients who are highly sensitized.
- Heart and kidney transplant patients have access to pediatric physical and occupational therapy, speech and rehabilitation specialists to enhance and speed recovery. A dedicated pediatric psychologist, pharmacist, social worker and Child Life specialist consistently are involved to help children and families through the transplant process and facilitate the transition to home, school and work.
- We offer the Family Accommodations Program to help make travel arrangements and coordinate appointments for families traveling to our center from a long distance.
Patients and families:
- Take a virtual tour of Children's Hospital, which will help prepare you and your child for a hospital stay.
- Be an advocate for your child. Participate in daily bedside clinical discussions and provide any information about your child that may be helpful to staff.
- Follow medical instructions fully and carefully before and after surgery.
- Ask questions if you don't understand the plan of care or if you are not sure how to care for your child at home.
- Attend all follow-up appointments.
Referring physicians:
- Referring physicians can access our specialists for consultation or transport 24 hours a day. Call our physician referral line at (800) 266-0366.
- Health care providers from outside of our southeastern Wisconsin service area are encouraged to use our web-based
e-Consult service. This service is available for non-urgent patient cases only and gives providers access to our specialists to review patient cases, obtain medical advice or second opinions, and receive care recommendations for rare symptoms and illnesses.
e-Consult is not to be used by the general public, parents/guardians or families. - Care guidelines for medical professionals
- Educational materials
- Pocket Directory
If you have questions about this information, email us or call (414) 266-6556.