Kaiser Wraps Up Transfer of Post-Transplant Patients
Kaiser Permanente's Northern California kidney transplant program has transferred all 1,500 post-transplant patients to UC-San Francisco, marking the conclusion of its kidney transplant program, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Kaiser in May announced that it would close its kidney program. Several news investigations alleged program mismanagement that compromised patient care. Under the program, Kaiser members being treated at other hospitals were forced to transfer to the Kaiser program's waiting list, a process that lost track of many patients and delayed critical transplants.
Following its closure, the center transferred 2,000 patients awaiting transplants to UC-San Francisco and UC-Davis. Fewer than 40 remain to be shifted, according to the Times.
With the recent transfer of the remaining patients, UC physicians now care for Kaiser's kidney transplant patients before, during and after their surgeries.
The Department of Managed Health Care continues its investigation of the program and next month is expected to release its findings (Weber/Ornstein, Los Angeles Times, 2/15).