ATLANTA — Piedmont Healthcare announced it will launch a lung transplant program at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, becoming only the second health system in Georgia to offer the procedure.
The move is expected to expand access to lifesaving care for the more than 11 million residents of the state who currently have limited in-state options for lung transplantation, according to the health company.
Piedmont said that currently, more than half of transplantable lungs donated in Georgia leave the state before they can be used, forcing patients and their families to travel out of state for surgery and follow-up care.
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Officials said the new program is designed to reduce that burden by bringing a full lung transplant service closer to home.
“Our team’s expertise combined with Piedmont’s transplant capabilities and pulmonary care network make us uniquely positioned to provide personalized care for high-complexity patients,” Christian Bermudez, M.D., Surgical Director, Piedmont Lung Transplant Program, said in a statement.
The program will be led by three specialists who together bring more than 60 years of experience treating patients with advanced cardiopulmonary disease.
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The team also has extensive experience in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, a technology that supports a patient’s heart and lungs from outside the body.
Piedmont’s ECMO program has treated more than 2,000 patients, placing it among the busiest programs in the world, officials said.
The new lung transplant service aims to extend eligibility to patients with acute respiratory failure and those currently on ECMO support, populations that are often turned away by other programs.
Lung transplantation is often the last available treatment for patients whose lungs have been severely damaged by conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or cystic fibrosis.
Roughly 3,000 lung transplants are performed each year in the U.S., while nearly 5,000 patients remain on waiting lists at any given time.
“We look forward to giving patients, including those who have been declined by other programs, another option for lung transplantation in Georgia,” Bermudez said.
The company said adding lung transplantation will complement its existing Advanced Lung Disease program, which already provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for patients with complex lung conditions.
“Launching a lung transplant program is a significant milestone for Piedmont and for the patients we serve across the state,” said Patrick M. Battey, M.D., chief executive officer of Piedmont Atlanta. “We are excited to support the talented transplant team in their mission to save lives.”
Piedmont said lung transplant services are expected to be available starting fall 2026.
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