RPCI redesignated as Blue Distinction Center for providing quality transplant care

RPCI redesignated as Blue Distinction Center for providing quality transplant care -

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York today redesignated Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) as Blue distinction Center® for the delivery of quality transplant care in the distinction Blue centers specialized program for Care®. 100 Blue Distinction Centers for Transplants have been designated in the United States, with only four located in the State of New York.

Blue Distinction Centers are medical facilities shown to provide specialized care quality based on objective and transparent measures for the patient results in safety and health that have been developed with the participation of the medical community. To receive a distinction Blue Transplants® designation centers, medical institutions must demonstrate success in meeting the safety criteria of patients as well as specific measures of quality transplant (including survival measures). RPCI received the same designation of Blue Distinction Center in 2011.

blood and marrow hematopoietic stem cell transplants, also known as bone marrow transplants are a common approach to treat many types of hematological malignancies, including forms of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. They involve blood transplant marrow stem cells or bone - from a donor or patients themselves -. As a way to spare the patient the toxic effects of chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy intensive

"Because the blood and marrow transplantation is such a very complex procedure, the medical needs of a patient before, during and after a transplant procedure are extensive and labor, "said Philip McCarthy, MD, director of blood transplant program and bone marrow RPCI." given this context, we are particularly proud to win again blue Distinction for BlueCross BlueShield of our transplant program. "

Research shows that the distinction Blue centers demonstrate improved quality and better outcomes for patients with higher survival rates compared with their peers.

"We are pleased that RPCI has been recognized for their quality transplant care," said Dr. Thomas Schenk, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. "In BCBS network are measured and again nationally recognized quality care provider "

Although rare, the number of transplants. - including the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and bone marrow / blood stem cell. - in the nation have increased in recent years there were 28.954 transplant procedures performed in 2013 compared to 28052 in 2012. Today, more than 123,000 people are waiting for donations of organs for transplants, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

in 06, the Blue Distinction centers for special care program was developed to help patients find quality suppliers their needs specialized care while encouraging health professionals to improve the care they provide.

The Blue Distinction Centers specialized care program to identify medical facilities providing quality care in bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip surgery of the spine and transplantation. These specialty areas represent about 30 percent of hospital expenditure. For more information on the program and a complete list of designated institutions, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.