Transplant Awareness and Support

Astellas serves as a compelling voice to the transplant community through advocacy and the support of numerous associations including the World Transplant Games, the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Liver Foundation, the Canadian Transplant Association, the Canadian Association of Transplant Nurses and the International Transplant Nurses Society. Astellas also supports symposia to help further medical knowledge and generally contributes to fellowships supporting clinical or basic research in kidney, liver, heart and lung transplantation.

The remarkable success in organ transplantation over the past two decades has created a burgeoning demand for transplant procedures. At the same time, the Canadian healthcare system is facing serious constraints in terms of resources and funding. As a result, there are immediate and growing needs to assist the healthcare system in several areas of kidney transplantation, including educational services for patients before and after surgery.

Transplant Companions

Transplant Companions is a unique educational support program, which has been set up in 13 Canadian transplant centres to help individuals and their families become better prepared for a kidney transplant.

Small, interactive workshops led by trained transplant healthcare professionals and kidney recipients are what make this a unique learning experience. The Transplant Companions program consists of a two-hour workshop made up of approximately 15 individuals who are awaiting a transplant. An interactive website (www.transplantcompanions.ca) serves as a refresher for workshop attendees or those in remote areas of the country.
Visit www.transplantcompanions.ca.

The Transplant Adherence Program^®

The Transplant Adherence Program (TAP) is a national support program that is available to all kidney transplant recipients regardless of when they were transplanted or what medications they are taking. This program provides numerous tools such as a website with downloadable medication and appointment reminders, regular newsletters, an alarm pillbox and information to help kidney transplant patients and their caregivers build effective, positive adherence strategies.
Visit www.transplantadherence.ca.