Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5953364 | Chest | 2015 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
Lung transplantation is an effective therapy for many patients with end-stage lung disease. Few centers across the United States offer this therapy, as a successful lung transplant program requires significant institutional resources and specialized personnel. Analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing database reveals that the failure rate of new programs exceeds 40%. These data suggest that an accurate assessment of program viability as well as a strategy to continuously assess defined quality measures is needed. As part of strategic planning, regional availability of recipient and donors should be assessed. Additionally, analysis of institutional expertise at the physician, support staff, financial, and administrative levels is necessary. In May of 2007, we started a new lung transplant program at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and have performed 101 transplants with an average recipient 1-year survival of 91%, placing our program among the top in the country for the past 5 years. Herein, we review internal and external factors that impact the viability of a new lung transplant program. We discuss the use of four prospectively identified quality measures: volume, recipient outcomes, financial solvency, and academic contribution as one approach to achieve programmatic excellence.
Keywords
CMSOPOOPTNFTEDSASRTRLASISHLTlung allocation scoreInternational Society for Heart and Lung TransplantationScientific Registry of Transplant RecipientsRootorgan procurement organizationOrgan Procurement and Transplant NetworkUnited Network of Organ SharingCenters for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesFull-time equivalentUNOS
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Authors
Julia MD, PhD, Michael MD, PhD, Lois MD, FCCP, John MD, Joseph MD, Peter J. MD, PhD, Mark D. MD, MBA, Kalpaj MD,