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Avera Bone Marrow Transplant Program Earns Accreditation

Avera Transplant Institute's bone marrow transplant program has been awarded a three-year accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for both autologous and allogeneic adult transplantation, donor collection and lab processing of cellular products.

The Avera Transplant Institute is one of 155 FACT-accredited bone marrow transplant programs in the country. FACT-JACIE (Joint Accreditation Committee-ISCT & EBMT) standards are defined by leading experts based on the latest knowledge of the field of cellular therapy product transplantation. Avera McKennan has been found to be in compliance with these rigorous standards as well as governmental regulations.

Avera McKennan's accreditation represents the second three-year accreditation for autologous transplant, and first-time approval for allogeneic transplantation. The accreditation affirms the program's scope and quality, and is also important for participation in research and transplant reimbursement contracts.

"We sought accreditation for our organization because FACT accreditation has evolved into an all-but-necessary qualification to be accepted and competitive in the field of cellular therapy," said Beth Plahn, director of transplant services at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center. "Accreditation by FACT is used by physicians for referral and by insurance companies for reimbursement. We believe FACT accreditation will make patients aware that our facility strives to achieve the highest quality care for cellular therapy treatment programs."

"Accreditation is an important industry standard. It demonstrates our continued competency in transplant services, and also gives patients under our care assurance that their transplant center is on par with other centers nationally," said Dr. Kelly McCaul, hematologist with Avera Hematology and Transplant.

The FACT accreditation process involves the submission of documentation to demonstrate compliance with the standards and a subsequent on-site inspection.

Since 2001, Avera McKennan has been caring for people in need of bone marrow transplants. Through the use of advanced transplantation technologies, bone marrow function is restored, and certain cancers cured, utilizing high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The outcomes of the Bone Marrow Transplant program meet or exceed national and international standards for disease-free survival, treatment-related toxicity and engraftment of stem cells. Bone Marrow Transplant is a standardized form of therapy for malignant and non-malignant conditions:

  • Acute and chronic leukemia
  • Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Germ cell cancers
  • Myelodysplastic syndromes
  • Aplastic anemia

The use of hematopoietic cell transplantation (blood or marrow transplantation) has grown over the past decade to become a standard of care for several diseases as well as a newer treatment option for others. An estimated 45,000 to 50,000 hematopoietic cell transplants are performed annually worldwide to treat patients with life-threatening malignant and non-malignant conditions.

For autologous bone marrow transplant, the diseases most commonly treated with transplant are currently multiple myeloma and lymphoma. For allogeneic bone marrow transplant, diseases most commonly treated with transplant are currently acute and chronic leukemias, lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndromes. Due to advances in transplantation, long-term experience and ongoing clinical trials, patient eligibility for transplant continues to expand and the list of indications for which transplant may be a standard treatment option continues to develop.