Cingles Info

Tuesday July 2, 10:01 am Eastern TimePress Release
SOURCE: Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute Receives Approval to Launch Transplant
Program at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth; Baylor All Saints
Offers First Liver Transplant Program in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas, July 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Baylor Regional Transplant
Institute announced today that it has received approval from the United
Network for Organ Sharing, the government-directed organization that
oversees the national organ allocation system, to launch a liver and kidney
transplant program at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth. The
transplant team anticipates performing their first liver and kidney
transplants in July 2002."We are thrilled to offer residents of Tarrant
County access to a world-class liver and kidney transplant program in their
own neighborhood," said Patrick Flynn, president, Baylor All Saints Medical
Centers. "The high quality of our physicians, nurses and medical center will
enable us to successfully perform life-saving liver and kidney transplants
for those who
desperately need them."For several months, the Baylor All Saints transplant
team has trained with the transplant team at Baylor University Medical
Center in Dallas, one of the nation's top 10 transplant centers. The Baylor
Dallas transplant team has among the highest kidney transplant survival
rates in Texas and among the nation's top liver transplant survival rates,
based on centers that receive the most complex cases."We anticipate
performing approximately 30 liver and 30 kidney transplants during our first
year. The Baylor All Saints transplant program will mirror the transplant
program at Baylor Dallas, offering patients advanced transplantation
techniques, such as living donor transplants," said Goran Klintmalm, M.D.,
Ph.D., chairman and chief of the Baylor Regional Transplant Institute and
the Baylor All Saints transplant program. Under Dr. Klintmalm's leadership,
Baylor began its transplant program in 1984 and today it is world- renowned.
Considered an expert in his field, Dr. Klintmalm has authored three liver
transplantation textbooks and trained more than 20 transplant surgeons who
now lead transplant programs around the world.Marlon Levy, M.D., surgical
director of the Baylor All Saints transplant program, and several
experienced transplant physicians, comprise the Baylor All Saints transplant
team. Dr. Levy is recognized for pioneering internationally known
xenotransplantation research at Baylor University Medical Center and has
performed more than 700 liver and kidney transplants during his 10-year
career as a transplant surgeon."Patients receiving liver and kidney
transplants at Baylor All Saints
will undergo quality treatment and have access to Baylor's leading
transplantation research program," said Dr. Levy. "Because of Baylor's
active
participation in transplantation research, some patients are able to benefit
from new immunosuppressant medications three to five years before they
become standard therapy."Fort Worth native Natalie Murray, M.D., is the
director of
hepatology at Baylor All Saints. "My team and I will provide expertise in
the treatment of liver disease to both liver transplant candidates and
recipients, as well as others with liver disease. We believe this new
service will enhance Tarrant County's medical resources," said Dr.
Murray.The Baylor All Saints transplant team is made up of transplant
surgeons; transplant physicians, including hepatologists and nephrologists;
anesthesiologists; radiologists; transplant coordinators; nurses;
pharmacists; social workers;
dietitians; and laboratory and business services personnel. The clinicians
are professionally credentialed in the field of transplantation.LifeGift
Organ Donation Center will serve as the organ procurement organization for
Baylor All Saints' transplant program. "We look forward to a strong,
successful working relationship with LifeGift," said Dr. Klintmalm.The
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute encompasses the Baylor University
Medical Center and Baylor All Saints Medical Center transplant programs, and
The
Dallas Liver Transplant Program, which provides comprehensive services for
both children and adults. The Institute also focuses on transplantation
research, including the study of transplant immunology. Baylor Health Care
System recently received a $5 million grant from the W.W. Caruth, Jr.
Foundation Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas to establish a transplant
immunology research program. Each year, the Baylor Regional Transplant
Institute performs around 335 solid organ transplants, including liver,
kidney, pancreas, heart and lung transplants. For more information about the
Baylor Regional Transplant Institute, visit <A
HREF="http://www.baylorhealth.com/BITS"
.Baylor
All Saints Medical Centers serve more than 100,000 people annually through
two full-service hospitals, primary care clinics, a rehabilitation and
fitness center, and a variety of specialty medical services. All Saints
Health System joined Baylor Health Care System in January 2002. SOURCE:
Baylor Health Care System