Temple University Hospital Named “Blue Distinction Center for Transplants” for its Fox Chase-Temple University Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Program

PHILADELPHIA (November 6, 2015) – Temple University Hospital earned the status of a “Blue Distinction Center for Transplants” by Blue Cross Blue Shield, in recognition of the Fox Chase-Temple University Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program’s expertise in performing adult bone marrow transplants.  The Fox Chase-Temple BMT Program is a formal affiliation with Fox Chase Cancer Center and is located on the campus of Jeanes Hospital – both of which are part of the Temple University Health System.  All hospital services in the Fox Chase-Temple BMT Program are provided by Temple University Hospital.

Henry Fung, MD, FRCPE
Henry Fung, MD, FRCPE

“It’s an honor to have our team’s expertise in bone marrow transplantation recognized by this distinction,” said Henry C. Fung, MD, FRCPE, Vice Chair of Hematology at Fox Chase and director of the Fox Chase-Temple BMT Program.  “A Blue Distinction Center for Transplants designation allows us to continually strive to deliver the highest quality of specialty care to our patients.”

“This kind of recognition affirms the performance of top-line physicians like Dr. Fung and the commitment of his colleagues and care teams to providing high-performance services to our patients,” said Temple University Hospital President & CEO John N. Kastanis, FACHE.

Blue Cross Blue Shield developed this prestigious distinction to help patients in search of high- quality specialty care choose the facility that best fits their needs. Using input from the medical community, the Blue Distinction Center for Transplants designation is given to hospitals that meet quality measures such as surgical team expertise, transplant procedure volume, and positive patient outcomes.

Since its start in 1990, the Fox Chase-Temple BMT Program has performed more than 1,500 transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, aplastic anemia and other disorders. The Program is fully accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), and participates in the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

The Program’s doctors and staff actively participate in protocols from institutions within the Temple University Health System, the Eastern Clinical Oncology Group (ECOG) and the Bone Marrow Clinical Trials Network (BMT-CTN).

Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on www.bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

For more information, call 888-369-2427