Kenwood - The Jewish Hospital Blood & Marrow Transplant Program is now one of a distinguished group of blood and bone marrow transplant programs nationwide officially recognized for overall excellence. After an extensive program review and on-site inspection, the program received accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). FACT accredits bone marrow transplant programs that have demonstrated an exceptional level of quality patient care.

"This approval highlights the exceptional quality of our Blood & Marrow Transplant Program," said Randolph Broun, M.D., medical director, Jewish Hospital Blood & Marrow Transplant Program. "FACT only accredits transplant programs that meet the highest of standards."

Blood and marrow transplantations are used to treat many types of cancer, such as leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Bone marrow contains stem cells, which grow and divide into white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. High doses of chemotherapy, which are used to destroy cancer cells, can also destroy normal, healthy stem cells.

During a bone marrow transplant, healthy stem cells are transplanted into the patient following chemotherapy. There are two types of stem cell transplantation: autologous (the patient's stem cells are removed prior to high-dose chemotherapy and transplanted back into the patient after chemotherapy) and allogeneic (after chemotherapy, stem cells from a donor are transplanted into the patient's bone marrow). The donated stem cells can either be from a family member or from an unrelated donor found through the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

FACT is a non-profit organization developed by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) to establish standards for high quality medical and laboratory practices. In 1997, FACT initiated its voluntary, comprehensive, standard-setting inspection and accreditation program that encompasses all phases of blood cell collection, processing and transplant.

The Jewish Hospital offers the only adult blood and marrow transplant program in the Tristate area. The program is recognized as a regional center for autologous and allogeneic transplants and leukemia treatment.

The Jewish Hospital is part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system that also includes The Christ Hospital, The University Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals, The Fort Hamilton Hospital, Drake Center, West Chester Medical Center and the physicians of Alliance Primary Care. To view other Health Alliance news releases, go to www.health-alliance.com/pressroom

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