The addition of liver transplant services expands local accessibility to lifesaving treatment.
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Prisma Health Transplant Center announces an expansion of service in Greenville to bring a new option to South Carolina patients who may be candidates for liver transplant. Patients who otherwise would need to travel hours to transplant centers in the region will now be able to receive care much closer to home. The Prisma Health liver transplant program received approval from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in June, has already completed its first liver transplant procedure and has listed more candidates who may begin their liver transplant journey soon.
By offering transplant services to the Upstate and surrounding regions, Prisma Health provides advanced, quality healthcare while easing the travel burden felt by patients and their families over the course of the transplant journey, from early evaluation to preparation, through the donor process, to surgery and follow-up care. The program serves patients with a variety of liver conditions, ranging from acute and chronic liver failure to various cancers.
Dr. Derek DuBay, nationally recognized transplant surgeon and liver transplant program leader, said, “I’m privileged to be part of a team dedicated to expanding access to liver transplant services in this region so more patients can find the hope and expertise they need closer to home. Our specialists guide and encourage patients facing a scary diagnosis in their journey toward becoming a transplant recipient. Helping each patient achieve a successful outcome resulting in longer and improved quality of life is what inspires us every day.”
The Prisma Health Transplant Center at Greenville Memorial Hospital is led by physicians with a combined 45 years of experience caring for liver transplant patients and is one of only 256 transplant centers nationwide. It is one of only three centers in all of South Carolina.
In response to rising need, Prisma Health first launched the Transplant Center in 2022 to offer a solid organ transplant program which has expanded to include kidney and pancreas transplant services, and now, liver transplant. Since opening, the Transplant Center has seen steady growth. The team has completed 350 solid organ transplant procedures and provides comprehensive follow-up for patients.
Southern states have some of the highest liver disease mortality rates with South Carolina ranking high among them. The most common risk factors for liver disease include obesity, Type 2 diabetes and alcohol use. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 1,096 South Carolinians died of liver disease in 2021. Liver failure was the 9th leading cause of death in the state. In 2023, 58 liver transplants were performed in the state. The liver transplant “need” in South Carolina is estimated at over 150 each year.
Prisma Health’s team of transplant specialists, hepatologists, surgeons and dedicated caregivers work closely with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan, ensuring the best possible outcome. With access to innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technology, we are committed to helping patients live longer, healthier lives.
Learn more about the Prisma Health Transplant Center at PrismaHealth.org/LiverTransplant
About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company with over 32,000 team members, 19 acute and specialty hospitals, 3,131 licensed beds, 320 practice sites, and more than 5,900 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Each year, Prisma Health serves more than 1.6 million patients in South Carolina and Tennessee. Connect with Prisma Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter/X.