With careful consideration, the options are discussed with the patient. Often aggressive medical management can delay one's need for heart transplantation or transplantation can be avoided altogether. Cardiomyopathy Clinic Loma Linda University Medical Center has an outstanding Cardiomyopathy Clinic in which aggressive drug treatment regimens and innovative research protocols are available to treat heart failure. This program has been so successful that many of the patients that are referred to either the Cardiomyopathy Clinic directly or to the Heart Transplant Program have improved their cardiac function to such an extent that heart transplantation is no longer necessary. Revascularization Other patients may be candidates for surgical revascularization rather than transplantation.
Appropriate testing is completed to determine the probability of success.
If surgical intervention is deemed preferable, the referring physician is informed of the transplant team's recommendation. Assistance through this process is given by health care professionals at Loma Linda University Medical Center to ensure the continuum of care. Transplant evaluation For some patients, a full transplant evaluation may be appropriate. After the initial consultation with the transplant team cardiologist, the referring physician is informed of the recommendation to proceed with transplant evaluation. Diagnostic testing and consultation is performed per the transplant protocol to assess suitability of the candidate.