Support & Educational Resources for Patients

We offer both psychosocial and educational support services to all patients to help them cope with what can often be a difficult and confusing time. These services give them the knowledge and coping skills they need to prepare for surgery and life afterwards. Patients and their family members can both benefit from these resources.

Role of the Support Team

Our psychosocial team works closely with the medical team both before and after surgery. They consist of one full-time psychiatrist and four full-time adult social workers, as well as a full-time pediatric liver and small bowel transplant social worker. They are available to patients and family members throughout the transplantation process.

Before Surgery

Each patient and caregiver is required to meet with a social worker and psychiatrist prior to their surgery for a psychosocial evaluation. During this evaluation, the social worker and psychiatrist will review the entire transplant experience. This may include the following topics:

Liver disease
Waiting for an organ
Transplantation surgery
In-hospital recovery and rehabilitation
Medications and follow-up care
Potential caregiving needs

The psychosocial evaluation will also be used to determine whether any other resources might be beneficial to the patient. These may include psychiatric treatment for anxiety or depression, additional transportation options, and home care recommendations.

After Surgery

Following the transplantation surgery, the social worker and, in some cases, the psychiatrist will collaborate with the medical team to help the patient safely discharge from the hospital.

Our psychosocial team will also be available to provide support through additional education and counseling throughout the transplantation process.

Educational Workshops and Support Groups

Our educational workshops and support groups are designed to provide patients and caregivers with the knowledge and coping skills required for the road ahead — both before surgery and long after.

Workshops

Educational workshops take place over eight weekly sessions and are held four times per year. Possible topics include:

An Overview of Liver Disease, Including Listing Criteria for Transplant
Liver Transplantation Options: Deceased Donor vs. Living Donation
Immunosuppressant Medications and their Side-Effects
Patients' Stories of Transplant
Tour of the Operating Room and ICUs
Pain Management
Stress Management
Nutrition
Physical Therapy
Psychological Healing
Post-Transplant Complications

Download a schedule of upcoming workshops at the following hospitals:

Support Groups

Pre-Transplant Support Group

Waiting for a liver transplant can be very scary. It can be hard to manage the anxiety and fears that come with the uncertainty of waiting for a transplant. Meet up with other patients waiting for liver transplant to discuss your concerns and gain information about the disease process and transplantation. Peer support really does make the journey a little easier.

When: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm every Wednesday
Where: Via Zoom

Post-Transplant Support Groups

After transplantation surgery, patients face a whole new set of challenges and goals. This is why we strongly encourage all transplant recipients and their families to come to our post-transplant support group. Meet up to share experiences, get advice, and offer mutual encouragement. We now have two post-transplant groups to meet the needs of our different age groups.

Adult Post-Transplant Support Group
When: 10 to 11:30 am every Monday
Where: Via Zoom

Young Adult Post-Transplant Support Group
When: 12:30 pm to 2 pm every Monday
Where: Via Zoom

For more information about either of the support groups above, please email or call Aimee Muth, LCSW aim9003@nyp.org or (917) 596-0090.