MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines is suspending its kidney and pancreas transplant program for at least a year, the Des Moines Register reported. The program had been performing about 30 transplants per year. Des Moines has two such programs, which is unusual for a city this size, MercyOne leaders said. Iowa Methodist Medical Center also has a transplant program, and MercyOne said it is working with Methodist to take on patients who expected to have their operations done at MercyOne. In a press release, MercyOne officials said the temporary pause “will allow the time necessary to closely evaluate the operational and technology needs of the program, as well as overall patient volume — a key reason behind the decision to inactivate.” Officials said patients will not lose their place on waiting lists for new organs.