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The liver transplant process begins when patients are referred to the Hepatology Unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) for assessment by a multidisciplinary treating team. The team includes specialist hepatologists, surgeons, anaesthetists, liver transplant coordinators, dieticians, social workers and mental health staff. Many other departments and hospital staff also contribute to health care services connected with assessment and treatment.
The evaluation and assessment process establishes whether liver transplantation is the right treatment for each individual patient, whilst enabling the team to provide support and information. This can be a stressful time for patients and their families giving rise to various questions such as: What will happen to me? Can I cope?
Taking part in the online STEP (“Support Through Education” Program) offers the opportunity to learn more whilst being supported by others in similar circumstances. This STEP guide in conjunction with the Liver Transplant Evaluation and Assessment Guide and attendance at the online STEP sessions—provides information about organ donation, preparation for surgery, the transplant operation and what to expect at the recovery and return-home stages, diet and exercise, medications and the outpatient clinic reviews.
Liver transplantation is a complex, expensive and highly specialised treatment. Much of the world’s population do not have access to liver transplantation. In Australia, the cost of transplantation and medication, is government subsidised allowing availability and affordability for patients. The liver transplant program would however not exist without the generosity of organ donors and their families. Organ donation and its gift of life completely support the transplant program.
It is everyone’s responsibility to work towards achieving the best outcome. By gaining information and support, STEP participants can adapt their focus from the symptoms and effects of a chronic disease to active preparation for one of the most major life challenges.
Successful transplantation needs some lifestyle changes, clinical follow up and commitment to lifelong prescribed medication.
It is important that if listed for a liver transplant, you and your family are as ready as can be for transplantation and all its possibilities.
We wish you the very best.
Professor Russell Strong and team performed the first Australian liver transplant in 1985. Since then, the Queensland Liver Transplant Service (QLTS) based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Brisbane quickly became one of the major liver transplant programs in Australia and the world. With increasing numbers of patients referred to QLTS it was vital that patients were offered opportunity to manage in the best possible way, both before and after transplantation.
In 1998 the PAH “Support Through Education” Program (STEP) was started to provide information and support to PAH patients and their families, as they awaited liver transplantation and navigated the first few months after receiving a liver transplant. The STEP groups were run every few weeks at the hospital.
Patients and their families who take part in the “Support Through Education” Program (STEP) describe greater confidence in coping both before (pre) and after (post) transplant.
STEP is run by the PAH liver transplant multidisciplinary team. Patients and families who have already been through the liver transplant process sometimes take part in STEP as volunteers with the Liver Transplant Support Network. We regularly evaluate and change STEP to meet the needs of those involved.
During 2020 STEP moved online from face-to-face group programs held in PAH seminar rooms.
This now allow patients and families to access STEP from anywhere on a smartphone, laptop, tablet, iPad, iPod or desktop computer. The very popular end-of-year STEP lunch at a local café will continue.
We look forward to you taking part with STEP, trusting that you will find much helpful information and feel welcomed to the Queensland Liver Transplant Service.
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