Traveling to Dallas for Liver Transplant Care
Better Outcomes
Families from all over the region travel to Children’s Health℠ for liver transplants. Why?
Two words: Better outcomes.
Children’s Health received a 4 of 5 rating from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients in 2018. This illustrates how our transplant program, led by UT Southwestern surgeons and physicians, consistently achieves transplant outcomes that meet or exceed the national average. Here’s why we stand apart:
We perform more solid organ transplants on patients younger than 5 years old than any other hospital in Texas.
In 2018, our liver transplant program was one of only two in the nation with a 100% survival rate at 30 days, one year and three years.
We’ve completed more than 550 liver transplants since we did our first one in 1984.
We ranked in the Top 10 for pediatric gastroenterology and GI surgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2018-19.
Transplant Care Is Closer Than You Think
Children’s Health is conveniently located near downtown Dallas, and are two airports that you can fly into:
In fact, we’re only three miles from Dallas Love Field airport (headquarters for Southwest Airlines).
Traveling Around Dallas-Fort Worth
Public transportation: Our public transportation system (DART) can take you virtually anywhere you want to go. We’re located near the medical district DART and Trinity Railway Express stops. Once you’ve arrived by DART, a shuttle service is available for your family to get to the Dallas campus. You can find the shuttle schedule here. A shuttle tracker is also available within the Children’s Health app.
Housing Information
Whether you’re staying at our hospital, a nearby hotel or other housing accommodations, we do our best to make sure your stay goes as smoothly as possible. Take a look at our housing options below.
Staying at Children's Health
We encourage parents to stay with their children while they are hospitalized. One parent or legal guardian is welcome to stay 24/7. Parents or legal guardians may also assign one adult friend or family member to stay overnight in their place. (Siblings or family members under age 18 are not allowed to spend the night in your child’s room.)
Each patient room has accommodations for one person to stay overnight, including a chair or sofa that converts into a single bed. Each room also has a private bath. Showers are located on the fifth and sixth floors for patient family use. Special electric plugs for hairdryers and other electrical appliances are located in these areas, as well. If you need assistance in obtaining toiletries, please contact Social Services at 214-456-2300.
Food is available in our cafeteria. You may purchase a tray for yourself to be delivered with your child's meal.
Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
Ronald McDonald House of Dallas offers temporary overnight lodging, three meals a day and transportation to and from the hospital for families living more than 40 miles from Children’s Health. Families can access private bedrooms, laundry and kitchen facilities. There are activities for siblings, including: crafts, games, movie nights, therapy dogs and seasonal celebrations.
There is a nominal cost per day, and room availability is based on a daily waiting list. Your social worker will need to put your family on the waiting list the first time you stay there. After the first stay, families can call the Ronald McDonald House directly at 214-631-7354 to be put on the waiting list. However, prior contact does not guarantee reservations.
Nearby Hotels and Housing Partners
Families who must travel to the Dallas area can take advantage of special patient-family medical discount rates at nearby hotels and motels. When you call a hotel on the list, confirm that they offer a medical discount and ask for the Children’s Medical Center Patient-Family Medical Rate.
You can also call 214-456-2300 for help with overnight lodging. A list of discounted hotels is also available through a toll-free lodging hotline at 800-955-ROOM (7666).
What Should I Bring?
When you’re getting ready to pack your child’s bags, these items can help your child feel a little more comfortable:
A laptop computer or tablet
Books and magazines
Cozy clothes (pajamas, sweatshirts, bathrobe and slippers)
Pictures of friends, families and favorite places
Schoolwork
Their favorite stuffed animal, blanket or toy
Don’t forget to pack a few little extras for yourself or other family members. To pass the time, you might want to bring some books, magazines, crossword puzzles or a craft project.
Making an Appointment
First, you’ll make an initial appointment with us. During this appointment, we’ll do various health assessments and make sure your child is a good candidate for transplant. If needed, your child is put on a liver waitlist to wait for a match.
Once a match is made, we’ll get in touch with you to schedule the transplant. After the transplant, you can expect to be in Dallas-Fort Worth anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly your child recovers.
To book your initial consultation, please call us at 214-456-8600.
