Chicago,
30
January
2023
|
13:03 PM
America/Chicago

New data: Northwestern Memorial Hospital leads Illinois in abdominal organ transplant quality

Program’s patient survival rates rank among best in country

Abdominal transplant surgery 2

CHICAGO, Ill. – Jan. 30, 2023 – New data confirms Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s standing among the top abdominal organ transplant programs in the country. Based on one-year survival, information released by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients ranks the hospital’s kidney-pancreas transplant program as a 5-Tier Program and ranks its liver and kidney transplant programs as 4 tiers. Northwestern Memorial Hospital is the only transplant center in Illinois to achieve 5 tiers for kidney-pancreas transplants and 4 tiers for liver transplants. SRTR uses the tier system to make it easier for patients to understand and compare the outcomes of transplant programs. The highest-possible score is 5, which indicates likely better performance.

In 2022 and according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, Northwestern Memorial Hospital completed 332 kidney transplants, the most in the program’s history. The team completed 107 liver transplants and 24 pancreas transplants, saving the lives of hundreds of patients.

“Patients trust us to provide innovative, lifesaving care, and we never lose sight of that privilege,” said Satish Nadig, MD, PhD, director of the Comprehensive Transplant Center at Northwestern Medicine. “Our transplant program combines groundbreaking science with the best of humanity, and we push the boundaries of medicine to serve patients from Illinois and from around the world.”

On Jan. 5, SRTR released its semiannual report, which showed Northwestern Memorial Hospital was the only 4-Tier program for liver transplant in Illinois and was the highest-volume liver transplant center.  The program achieved the highest tier for getting a deceased donor transplant faster, which has the largest impact on patient survival after they are put on the waitlist for a donor liver.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s kidney-pancreas transplant program was the only program in the state to achieve Tier-5 for one-year organ survival. The hospital’s kidney transplant program was the highest volume in the state and is one of four in Illinois to achieve Tier-4 for one-year kidney transplant survival.

“Every member of our transplant team contributes to our superior patient outcomes, from those of us who provide direct patient care to our world-class researchers and administrative colleagues,” Dr. Nadig said. “We can care for the sickest patients and use more donor organs because of our team’s exceptional capabilities. It’s always special when independent data reflects our abilities to serve patients.”

In addition to abdominal organ transplants, Northwestern Memorial Hospital performs heart and lung transplants. It is home to the African American Transplant Access Program and the Hispanic Transplant Program, which are dedicated to improving transplant access and providing culturally congruent care. Other Northwestern Memorial Hospital programs also transplant additional organs or tissues, including corneas, skin, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, connective tissues and bone.

“Every patient deserves state-of-the-art transplant care, and that motivates us to expand the boundaries of medicine through research and innovation,” Dr. Nadig said. “We are also tremendously moved by the living and deceased donor donations we see each day. The decision of one person or family to donate organs and save another is awe-inspiring and unforgettable.”

Satish Nadig, MD, PhD

Every patient deserves state-of-the-art transplant care, and that motivates us to expand the boundaries of medicine through research and innovation. 

Satish Nadig, MD, PhD

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