UCI Medical Center To Explain Reasons for Rejecting Kidneys
The University of California-Irvine Medical Center will provide a written explanation for every organ refusal in its kidney transplant program, the Los Angeles Times reports. UCI informed CMS of the decision in a formal response to the agency, which was dated Dec. 9, 2005. CMS released the response on Friday.
The explanations will be reviewed by top university officials, including UCI Chancellor Michael Drake, and in some cases outside experts to determine whether the refusals were appropriate (Ornstein/Berthelsen, Los Angeles Times, 1/28).
A review of UCIMC by federal regulators -- prompted by problems in the hospital's liver transplant program -- found some problems in the kidney transplant program, among other deficiencies.
A Times review of the program found UCI had a liver acceptance rate of 8.7%, lower than the national median rate of about 32%.
In addition, data indicate that kidneys rejected by UCIMC later were found acceptable by other transplant facilities, and UCIMC patients likely would have had better chances of receiving transplants at other hospitals (California Healthline, 1/24).
KCET's "Life & Times" on Thursday examined the cultural barriers to donating and receiving organs in some communities. The segment includes comments from:
- Dahiana De Francisco, Hispanic communications coordinator for One Legacy, one of four not-for-profit, federally designated organ procurement organizations in the state;
- Edith Gonzalez, an ambassador for One Legacy;
- Antonio Molina, transplant coordinator with One Legacy; and
- California residents who have received or are waiting for organ transplants (Guinyard, "Life & Times," KCET, 1/26).
The complete transcript of the program is available online. Audio of the program is available online in RealPlayer.
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