DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Detroit Medical Center’s Harper University Hospital adult kidney transplant program consistently earns high rankings by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). There are currently 240 adult kidney transplant programs in the United States, and per data released by SRTR in 2018, DMC Harper University’s program received a 4/5 score placing it among the top two, out of six, transplant programs in Michigan and among the highest ranking programs nationally.
Outcomes on the SRTR registry are presented in the 5-tier system where 5/5 is the highest and 1/5 is the lowest in terms of one-year transplant patient survival. In Michigan the highest achieved score was 4/5 and two programs, including Harper University Hospital, achieved this ranking. Harper also achieved the same or better than big academic centers in the region including Cleveland Clinic, University of Michigan and Indiana University.
“This exemplary performance of our adult kidney transplant program at DMC Harper is a result of the hard work and dedication of our entire transplant team,” says Shakir Hussein, MD, FACS, Surgical Director, Transplant and Clinical Chief at DMC Harper University Hospital.
Statistically, Harper compares favorably against national averages of patients that receive a transplant. Harper averages 13.4 out of 100 people receiving a transplant compared to 18 out of 100 who receive a transplant nationally. Additionally, Harper's wait list mortality rates were 3 out of 100 as compared to the national average of 5.3 out of 100.
The current scores are worth noting especially in light of the higher patient acuity represented by the at-risk population served at its Midtown Detroit location. This diverse ethnic population is often challenged by high rates of Hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and obesity and typically has a lower socio-economic status, high unemployment, lack of education and social support which can negatively affect transplant outcomes.
“Our transplant team is very loyal to the residents in and around the City of Detroit,” adds Dr. Hussein. “It is their superb work ethic and pursuit of perfection that makes it possible for our transplant patients to thrive.”
For example, Adrian Lofton, a 25 year old African American college student majoring in Journalism at Wayne State University was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at the young age of 16. As his kidney disease progressed, he started dialysis when he was 20 years old. He remained on dialysis for 2 years, all the while, continuing his college education. In 2009, Adrian’s aunt had a massive stroke and passed away unexpectedly. She was a registered organ donor. Because of her generosity, she was able to give Adrian the gift of life, a kidney he received on January 2, 2010 at Harper University Hospital. While Adrian and his family were saddened by the loss of their aunt, they are truly thankful for the new life Adrian was given and the bright future he has ahead of him.
African Americans represent 35 percent of people in the US with kidney failure making them four times more likely to develop kidney failure than any other ethnic group. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading co-morbidities that contribute to the kidney failure rate among this ethnic group. At Harper 90 percent of patients transplanted are African American. Also, a growing number of Hispanics are diagnosed with kidney disease each year. Since 2000, the number of Hispanics with kidney failure has increased by more than 70 percent, and compared to non-Hispanics, Hispanics are almost 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney failure.
DMC Harper University Hospital has served patients from across the country and around the world for over 150 years. As part of its ongoing commitment to the kidney transplant effort, it joined other Michigan hospitals last fall in a six-week Gift of Life Hospital Challenge to see who could inspire the most people to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Detroit Medical Center signed up a resounding 763 new donors while all of the hospitals combined registered 1,691 donors.
"Our kidney transplant team is committed to providing the most comprehensive care that meet this area's community need," says Scott Steiner, Chief Executive Officer at DMC Harper University Hospital. "I am honored to work with a healthcare team that is dedicated to providing world-class kidney care and proud of what this means for kidney patients in this region."
DMC Harper University is a nationally awarded health care provider with a record of excellence in a variety of services ranging from neurosciences to organ transplant and nephrology to bariatric surgery and has been recognized nationally as a Best Hospital for 2017-18 in Diabetes & Endocrinology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery and Nephrology by U.S. News & World Report.
The Scientific Registry of Transplant Patients is a not-for-profit organization under contract from the Health Resources and Services Administration and the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It collects, analyses and presents the results of all transplant programs in the United States every six months. Results are public and can be viewed at the SRTR.org website.
