Three Vanderbilt Transplant Center programs were recently recognized for having high-performing outcomes by the Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice of the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The award process was developed as a way of measuring performance that takes into account three categories: post transplant survival rates; transplant rates; and mortality rates after being placed on the wait list.
• The kidney/pancreas transplant program received a bronze award for deceased donor transplant rates significantly above expected levels;
• The adult heart transplant program was recognized with a silver award for graft survival rates and deceased donor transplant rates significantly above expected levels;
• The adult lung transplant program was awarded a silver award for significantly above expected deceased donor transplant rates and significantly below expected waitlist mortality rates.
“Very few centers receive this distinction,” said Seth Karp, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Transplant Center. “These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of all members of the Transplant Center.”
The professional recognition serves as kudos to the various members of the transplant teams, said Edward Zavala, MBA, administrator for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.
Out of the 756 transplant programs in the United States, 174 (23 percent) received some form of acknowledgement from HRSA.
Vanderbilt had three programs identified as high performance programs.
“All of this relates back to the skilled management and care of our patients throughout the entire transplant continuum,” said Zavala. “To have three of our transplant programs in the top quartile of programs in the country recognized for significant achievement by HRSA is extremely gratifying and honors the dedication and hard work of the multidisciplinary teams of these programs.”