HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals collaborate to continue organ transplant program following hurricane damage
Because of the strong HCA Healthcare network of care, instead of pausing transplant services, the hospital was able to temporarily relocate services during temporary closure.
In the wake of Hurricane Milton, two HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals in Pinellas County turned a potential healthcare setback into an ongoing lifeline for organ transplant patients, relocating an entire transplant program from one hospital to the other within a week and providing transplant surgery to over a dozen people who would have otherwise still been waiting for this lifesaving care.
HCA Florida Largo Hospital, which is the only organ transplant hospital in Pinellas County, sustained extensive flood damage from Hurricane Milton and evacuated patients to safety before closing for repairs. Because of the strong HCA Healthcare network of care, instead of pausing transplant services, the hospital was able to temporarily relocate services to HCA Florida Northside Hospital in nearby St. Petersburg.
“I am incredibly proud and thankful for the can-do attitude of our physicians, nurses and other members of the transplant team who successfully partnered with our colleagues at Northside Hospital to ensure uninterrupted access to care for patients in need of organ transplant,” shared Sebastian Strom, MD, Chief Executive Officer at Largo Hospital.
“This was an unprecedented situation where everything aligned and presented an opportunity to move this program so hundreds of people on the waiting list for lifesaving care would still have that chance,” said Phil Marchesini, Chief Executive Officer at Northside Hospital. "I’m incredibly proud of our colleagues, physicians and leaders who showed overwhelming commitment and dedication to make this happen.”
Jennifer Miller received her lifesaving liver transplant while the program was temporarily relocated to Northside Hospital. “At the end of the day, it didn’t really matter to me where I received my transplant procedure. My long-standing relationship with the Largo Hospital transplant team afforded me the confidence for them to care for me at a temporary location. I’m thankful for the kindness and dedication of the entire team” shared Jennifer.
During the temporary relocation, the transplant team performed 13 kidney, 2 liver and 1 heart transplantation. As of December 2, 2024, Largo Hospital has resumed normal operations, including the return of the transplant program.