UPMC On Topic
Center for Liver Diseases: Collaborative care by an expert team
Kapil Chopra, MD
Director, UPMC Center for Liver Diseases
The UPMC Center for Liver Diseases sees patients with all kinds of liver problems. It can be a simple problem where an individual has a blood test for an annual exam via their family physician and is found to have elevated liver enzymes. We also have seen patients on the other end of the spectrum who are known to have liver disease for several years and by virtue of progression of the liver disease they now have end-stage liver disease.
It's fair to say that if a patient arrives at an early stage, almost all of their care can be facilitiated purely on an outpatient basis. However, there will be some patients who come to us at a very advanced stage of their liver disease, and at that stage we would prefer to admit them to the hospital and to be able to facilitate the combined collaborative and multidisciplinary care approach.
Treatments tailored to individual needs
The primary liver team is comprised of hepatologists and nurse practitioners. This team works in close collaboration with their colleagues in gastroenterology and surgery and members of other allied fields like the UPMC Liver Cancer Center, the UPMC Liver-Pancreas Institute, and if needed the UPMC Starzl Transplant Institute.
If a patient is not able to be considered for what I call traditional approaches to care, there are opportunities to participate in several research endeavors at the Center. Because of this unique collaborative care model, the patient has access to all these specialists, and there’s not just one person in isolation.
Early detection for healthy living
I think it’s important for patients to realize that if a liver disease is diagnosed and detected at an early stage, there’s very effective medical therapy that can help the patient . And it’s even fair to say today there are certain medical therapies that can potentially prevent a surgical approach.
We can also say we can effectively cure some liver diseases. And that’s amazing, because 10 years ago I don’t think that was possible.
The primary team at the UPMC Center for Liver Diseases is able to provide a broad range of collaborative management, and the liver specialist is with the patient for every step of the way in the complex pathway.
We take good pride that we as a team are able to provide world class liver care.
For more information, contact us at 1-800-533-UPMC.