UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Pilots Gas Card Program

The nonprofit organization Enduring Hearts has announced the launch of the “Road to Recovery Gas Card Program,” a new initiative to assist transplant families facing the prospect of extensive back and forth car travel during hospitalization and follow-up appointments/labs throughout pre and post transplantation. The pilot program will take place at the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, one of the most advanced pediatric heart programs in the nation and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, home to the Sibley Hearts Center, the most comprehensive children’s heart care services in the Southeast.

Enduring Hearts, founded in 2013, funds research to increase the longevity of organ transplants, improve the quality of life for transplant recipients, and eliminate pediatric heart diseases that lead to transplantation.

Those who are eligible to receive financial assistance through the “Road to Recovery Gas Card Program” include primary caregiver(s) of a pediatric heart transplant recipient or waitlisted candidates. Only one application may be submitted per quarter, and the amount of assistance offered will depend on what transplant stage a patient is in, be it pre-transplant in patient, pre-transplant out patient, or post-transplant.

“We are excited to start a program that will address a very specific aspect of the financial burden on transplant families,” said Carolyn Salvador, executive director of Enduring Hearts. “We know that transplant families often lack sufficient financial resources for fuel costs with all the extensive car travel that is required, so the number one intent is to support that ongoing need during a transplant family’s journey. We are thrilled UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta will host the pilot program and look forward to rolling out at other children’s hospitals around the country.”

Applications for this program will be submitted through the Enduring Hearts website portal (www.enduringhearts.org). Families must resubmit requests for continued care each quarter to remain eligible. Funding is based on availability and renewed quarterly (up to four quarters).

Validation of status will be provided by a designated transplant center worker. All gas cards will be electronically disbursed to the caregiver. Lastly, there are no cash or check payments with the program, and all payments will not be retroactive.

About Enduring Hearts

Currently one in four children who receive a heart transplant need to get a second one within five years of the procedure. The results of Enduring Hearts funded research projects contribute to the clinical and scientific knowledge about many important aspects of organ transplantation, e.g. the mechanisms of long-term organ deterioration, the consequences of tissue injury, and opportunities to intervene, postpone, and eliminate rejection processes. Enduring Hearts was ranked as a 2015 Top Rated Charity by Great Nonprofits. The organization has raised more than $3 million for research.

About UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh

Regionally, nationally, and globally, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is a leader in the treatment of childhood conditions and diseases, a pioneer in the development of new and improved therapies, and a top educator of the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. With generous community support, UPMC Children’s Hospital has fulfilled this mission since its founding in 1890. UPMC Children’s is recognized consistently for its clinical, research, educational, and advocacy-related accomplishments, including ranking 13th among children’s hospitals and schools of medicine in funding for pediatric research provided by the National Institutes of Health (FY2017).

About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been 100 percent dedicated to kids for more than 100 years. A not-for-profit organization, Children’s is dedicated to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Our specialized care helps children get better faster and live healthier lives. Managing more than a million patient visits annually at three hospitals, Marcus Autism Center, and 28 neighborhood locations, Children’s is the largest healthcare provider for children in Georgia and one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support since 1915, Children’s has impacted the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information.