ATLANTA — Piedmont Atlanta Hospital is now evaluating patients for a new lung transplant program, the second of its kind in Georgia.

The program’s surgical director, Christian Bermudez, says too many Georgia patients currently have to travel to neighboring states for lung transplants despite resources being available in the state.

“We already have a full clinic, our patients are waiting to be seen for this procedure,” Bermudez said.

More than half of the transplantable lungs donated in Georgia are sent out of state for procedures elsewhere. Bermudez hopes the new program will allow more of those lungs to remain in Georgia.

He says he recently met with the first patient who will be part of the new program.

“Just allowing them to stay closer to a family member in this very complex moment is just very rewarding to us,” Bermudez said.

About 3,000 lung transplants are performed in the United States each year, with even more people on the waiting list.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & MaryRyan Howarth contributed to this story.