Transplant Center

Omaha, Neb. - It is a mark of quality, experience and of a significant service provided to patients. The Nebraska Medical Center is now officially certified as a heart transplantation center by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The certification is a sign to patients that The Nebraska Medical Center meets strict requirements, has an experienced transplant team and that Medicare will cover applicable expenses for those individuals who qualify.

"This certification represents progress for heart transplantation at The Nebraska Medical Center and also acts to reassure patients and their families," explained Jorge Parodi, executive director of cardiovascular and pulmonary care services at The Nebraska Medical Center. "Not only did we meet all of the requirements set forth by CMS in the application process, we surpassed them. Our qualifications clearly show that we operate a solid heart transplantation program."

In order to gain certification, transplant programs must meet all specifications as stipulated by CMS which oversees transplantation nationwide. These requirements include expertise and clinical experience, quality care and good patient outcomes, a commitment of financial resources, a qualified staff and adherence to the highest standards of safety.

As part of its comprehensive review, CMS considers the number of transplants and the patient survival rate. The Nebraska Medical Center has performed a total of 23 heart transplants over 18 months. In that time frame, two patients have died of complications unrelated to their transplant procedures.

New CMS standards released in late March 2007 require heart transplant programs to perform ten transplants per year. This is the minimum number thought necessary to maintain an adequate level of experience. Programs that don't meet this requirement and other criteria will be in danger of losing their certifications.
"A number of transplant programs nationwide are currently facing decertification amid concern over practices and dropping patient numbers," explained Parodi. "The fact that The Nebraska Medical Center earned CMS approval in this environment of reform and strict oversight tells us that we are on the right path and doing the right things for our patients."

The Nebraska Medical Center is the only heart transplant program in the state to ever perform more than 12 transplants in a single year (September 2005 - September 2006).

Transplantation represents just one of several options available to patients through the medical center's comprehensive advanced heart failure program. Many patients can benefit from other therapies ranging from medication to the use of mechanical heart support devices.

For more information, go to www.nebraskamed.com.