Role: Living Donation Transplant Social Worker 
Hospital: Allegheny General Hospital

Q&A with Rachel 

Tell us about your role at Allegheny General. What do you enjoy most about the job? 

I work with all living kidney and liver donors through the phases of donation. I also work with both kidney and liver transplant recipients. My job is to assess donors to ensure that they are fully educated about what to expect with regards to donation surgery/follow-up, the caregiver support that they will need, and potential psychosocial stressors. 

I help them to traverse time off from work, lost wages, caregiver needs, and other unique donation-related issues. My favorite part of my job is having the honor of working with people through one of the most difficult times in their lives (for transplant recipients) or when they have decided to make an incredible but challenging gift (for donors). Both are very human experiences that require significant support and understanding and it is a pleasure to walk with people through these times. 

From your perspective, what impact does a place like Family House have on your patients during their treatment journey?  

I have worked with Family House, at times very closely, in my 15-year career in Pittsburgh. Whether for donors or recipients, a comforting, local place to stay has made a difference for patients and families time and again. Traveling, whether for surgery (elective or not) or follow-up, wears heavily, and I have seen that the familiarity of not only Family House but often Family House staff has lent some element of comfort.  

Often, it also helps families to get into a routine during a very unconventional and chaotic period. The reliability of transportation to/from the hospital as well as to the grocery store, the shared pantry, laundry facilities, and occasional meals help to provide some continuity when everything else appears to be unpredictable.  

How can the Pittsburgh healthcare industry better support services like Family House? 

The Pittsburgh healthcare industry needs to realize how important resources like Family House are and do a better job of educating everyone (staff, patients, and families) about them. I think the prioritization of sharing information is the biggest step towards awareness and making sure that resources like Family House are being used to the fullest and patients are getting the support they need.