CAMDEN, NJ – Today, Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) presented Virtua Health’s Advanced Organ Transplant Center with a $2 million Community Project Funding (CPF) award to modernize, expand, and enhance care at South Jersey’s only organ transplant center.

The CPF award will support Virtua’s expansion and renovations to ensure that South Jerseyans have access to the life-saving services and care they need. In 2022, Virtua Health proposed a plan to expand and renovate the existing clinic at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and offer enhanced health services and care for patients in the community.

“The funding we secured last Congress continues to have a direct impact on the people of South Jersey. This $2 million Community Project Funding award will improve organ transplant services in the region, expand patient capacity, support advanced research for new treatments, and provide patients with the care and services they need without having to travel,” Rep. Norcross said. “Improving health outcomes and quality of life in South Jersey remains one of my top priorities, and I’m proud to have secured this CPF that will do just that. I will continue to deliver for South Jersey and fight to bring back funding that has an impact on families throughout our communities.”

Organ transplants reached an all-time high in New Jersey in 2022 with Virtua performing the most transplants in its 47-year history.

"As the only provider of organ transplants in South Jersey, Virtua is helping to improve access and restore the health of people in our immediate community and beyond. Virtua is grateful to Congressman Donald Norcross for his advocacy and support in securing these funds and ensuring the legacy of Virtua Advanced Transplant and Organ Health for another 50 years," Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health said.

For more than 40 years, Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes has successfully performed thousands of transplants, with some of the best outcomes in the region.  Virtua has also achieved long-time certification from the United Network for Organ Sharing and approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

The transplant center will include the following renovations and expansions:

• Enhance clinical capacity by doubling the number of exam rooms from four to eight with updated exams rooms
• Enhance patient management/patient experience with the addition of state of the art diagnostic tools and point of care service:

• Fibroscan/ Liver elastrography
• Portable Ultrasound machine
• Two consultation rooms
• A refurbished reception area to improve visibility and oversight of patients and expansion of the waiting room
• A phlebotomy room for patient blood draw located conveniently within the center
• A clean supply room, an equipment storage room, an environmental services room, and a soiled workroom

The renovation and expansion of the Virtua Advanced Organ Transplant Center will begin shortly with an expected project completion date next year.

CPF awards were included in the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus bill passed in December 2022 by House Democrats in the 117^th Congress. The funding package included 12 appropriations bills, supplemental funding, and other key policies that includes funding for 15 community projects in New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District.

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