BONE MARROW |
Blood and Marrow Transplantation Care and Services at WPAHS
Since its inception in 1990, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital’s Cell Transplantation Program has been nationally recognized as a leader in the treatment of patients with acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, hodgkin disease, non-hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and related disorders.
Among the first hospitals in the nation to join the National Marrow Donor Program, West Penn Hospital is the only hospital in the region with a blood and marrow transplant program approved by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, a national clinical trial organization. The WPAHS provides a state-of-the-art Cellular Transplantation Program at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital for patients who undergo autologous (self-donated), allogeneic (requiring a related or unrelated donor), transplantation of peripheral blood, bone marrow, or cord blood for the treatment of acute leukemia’s, chronic leukemia’s, aplastic anemia, multiple myeloma, lymphomas, and other blood related disorders.
Most recently the Cancer Institute Cell Transplantation Program has been granted FACT Accreditation - from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.
In addition, West Penn Hospital is among an elite list of hospitals nationwide recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation, an organization dedicated to treating disorders that inhibit healthy blood cell production.
As the region’s largest transplant program, The Cell Transplantation Program provides the most advanced treatment options and drug therapies available, guiding patients through all phases of transplantation from marrow and blood collection to processing, transplantation, and follow-up care.
Our comprehensive program coordinates multi-disciplinary care with several disciplines including physicians, nurses, social service, pastoral care, case managers, dieticians, financial coordinator, and the Programs Transplant Coordinators:
Renee Gorczyca, RN BSN OCN CHTC Cell Transplantation Program Clinical Coordinator The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute Phone: 412-578-4707 Fax: 412-578-4391 Email: rgorczyc@wpahs.org |
Additional Services include:
• West Penn Hospital laboratories provide specialized services to aid in the collection, expansion and purification of stem cells retrieved from both peripheral blood and bone marrow. The experienced staff and state-of-the-art technology of our Bone Marrow Processing Laboratory, Cell Culture Laboratory, Special Hematology Laboratory and Molecular Oncology Laboratory combine to deliver optimal results for patients undergoing transplant.
• Stem cells are collected from peripheral blood through the Hospital’s apheresis program. During apheresis, whole blood is collected from one arm and enters a machine called a “cell separator.” The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate its components. Stem cells are removed and reserved for transplant while plasma and other blood cells are returned to the patient through the other arm.
• Patients undergoing transplant are treated in West Penn Hospital’s Hematology/Oncology Patient Care Unit on T7. The unit’s 20 private patient rooms feature cutting-edge air and water filtering technology to reduce infection risks. The rooms are designed to allow nurses to spend the maximum amount of time providing direct patient care and are stocked with all supplies, medications and linens that a patient may need. Each room is equipped with a DVD player and a movie library is available for patients to enjoy. A spacious patient and family lounge provides an area for patients to gather and relax with their loved ones in a homey and comfortable atmosphere.
• Patients who require short-term medical treatment can visit the Hospital’s Medical Short Stay Center for a variety of transplant-related services. The Center is open 24 hours a day, six days a week for chemotherapy, blood and blood product administration, and apheresis.
• West Penn Hospital is among a limited number of hospitals in the region that provide total body irradiation for patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Our Radiation Oncology program was also the first in the tri-state area to add revolutionary TomoTherapy technology to its arsenal of cancer-fighting tools. This new and precise method of radiation delivery is especially beneficial to patients who are preparing for bone marrow transplant.
• For patients who live a great distance from West Penn, the Hospital provides free or low-cost lodging options though the West Penn Manor apartments.
