A Model for Building a New Adult Blood and Marrow Program

Austin, Texas is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States^.  Cancer care in Austin is driven by strong community physicians, dominated by Texas Oncology.  In 2010, several foundations studied cancer care in the Austin community and found the largest service gap to be in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)^.  At the end of 2012, four distinct entities, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, Texas Oncology, Texas Transplant Institute at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, and Sarah Cannon came together to create an HSCT program in Austin.  With each providing a unique and needed component, the Austin program was started in February 2014, completed their first FACT inspection as a non-contiguous clinical program in conjunction with Texas Transplant Institute in July 2014, and is expected to achieve full FACT accreditation by the Fall of 2014.  The collaboration between the four parties has led to faster-than-expected program creation and ensured the quality, service, and clinical excellence imperative in the treatment of HSCT patients.

Each member of the collaboration team brought a needed set of skills, knowledge, and effort that were essential in the successful implementation.  These included:

• St. David’s South Austin Medical Center:   The hospital, along with its sponsor organizations, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and the St. David’s Foundation, provided the infrastructure needed, including the staff, equipment, supplies and a new unit and clinic specifically designed for the care of HSCT patients.
• Texas Transplant Institute/Methodist Hospital:  Texas Transplant Institute, a well-established provider of HSCT services, provided the clinical expertise through physician coverage, guidance, nurse/technician education, and quality management.   Cell Therapy Processing services are provided by Methodist Hospital.
• Texas Oncology:   The Austin-based community oncologists established patient requirements, smoothed transitions, and actively supported the program.   
• Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Network:  The SCBCN provided standardized policies, procedures, and quality management plans based on the best practices of the network facilities.  This collaborative organization composes a model of integration for new programs going forward.  As more communities grow in their need for clinically-excellent stem cell transplants close to home, this process provides a roadmap for program creation in the future. 

St. David’s South Austin Medical Center Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program is a non-contiguous program in partnership with Texas Transplant Institute of Methodist Hospital that share a single medical director. Both programs share common protocols, procedures, quality management systems and staff training and competencies. Both programs participate regularly to review clinical results: morbidity and mortality, quality improvement and performance.