The Relay: Episode 12 Now Available

LISTEN NOW: https://youtu.be/WNo8p4Zr2S0?si=ZV97NkrrZweNp_4J

A successful transplant is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of a lifetime of medications, monitoring, appointments, caregiver support and coordinated care.

In this episode of The Relay, host Val Emmons speaks with Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM, RIT, about the complex world of transplant case management and why transitions of care can determine whether a transplant succeeds long after surgery.

Janet shares both her professional expertise and her personal experience as the caregiver for her husband following his liver transplant. She explains how transplant case managers help patients navigate the evaluation process, insurance coverage, medication access, caregiver requirements, social determinants of health and the lifelong responsibility of protecting a donated organ.

The conversation also explores:

• Why transplant is a treatment, not a cure

• The risks of infection and missed anti-rejection medications

• The vital role of family caregivers

• Financial, transportation and health-literacy barriers

• The growing use of telehealth and artificial intelligence

• Why healthcare must preserve the human element in case management

• New developments in transplantation, including xenotransplantation and robotic procedures

• Why case managers remain one of healthcare’s most undervalued resources

Janet also reflects on leadership, mentorship and the importance of sharing professional experiences to strengthen the future of case management.

Transplantation may change a life in a single day, but coordinated transitions of care help protect that life for every day that follows.