Temple University Hospital, Temple University School of Medicine and Crozer-Keystone Health System recently announced the creation of an alliance for kidney transplant services. The Temple-Crozer Kidney Transplant Alliance has created a seamless continuum of high-quality care for patients in Delaware and Chester counties with end-stage kidney disease who require transplantation.

Through this dynamic clinical alliance, kidney transplant procedures are performed at Temple University Hospital, whereas all evaluation, pre- and post-operative care is now provided “close to home” on the Crozer-Chester Medical Center campus. Before this alliance, kidney transplant candidates who live in Delaware County have had to obtain these services elsewhere.

This new collaboration will be led by Vance Moss, M.D., a urologic surgeon at Crozer; and John A. Daller, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Surgery and director of the Abdominal Organ Transplant Program at Temple University Hospital. The team also includes: Andreas Karachristos, M.D., PhD., transplant surgeon (Temple); Patricio Silva, M.D., medical director, Temple Kidney Transplant Program (Temple); Kevin Sperling, M.D., transplant nephrologist (Crozer); Serban Constantinescu, M.D., Ph.D., transplant nephrologist (Temple); Roy Marcus, M.D., transplant nephrologists (Crozer); Iris Lee, M.D., transplant nephrologist (Temple); C. Nathan Okechukwu, M.D., transplant nephrologist (Crozer). 

Daller, Karachristos and Moss will perform all kidney transplant surgeries at Temple University Hospital and will also be available for surgical services on both health system campuses to meet the needs of kidney transplant patients. Overall, as a result of this clinical alliance, patients will have access to experienced surgeons, nephrologists, nurses, coordinators, social workers, financial coordinators, dietitians, endocrinologists, immunologists, and other key physician specialists and medical staff.

“This alliance is unique to the delivery of kidney care in the Delaware Valley,” says Joseph Saunders, president of Crozer-Chester Medical Center. “By integrating our resources to provide comprehensive, continuous care to a broader patient base, we are offering our patients the best of both worlds in terms of convenience and quality care.”

“This is the direction in which health care is leading – regional collaboration,” adds Joseph W. “Chip” Marshall, III, president and CEO of Temple University Health System. “This move allows us to expand an already successful program, and also allows Crozer to offer outstanding, uninterrupted care to its patients without having to create a kidney transplant program. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Marshall adds, “Ultimately, this alliance offers Delaware and Chester County patients the option to stay in their own communities for ongoing treatment, while receiving their surgery at Temple University Hospital by our highly-skilled surgical team.”

“Crozer-Keystone Health System has enjoyed a longstanding academic relationship with Temple. We are glad to expand upon that relationship through this unique program, which will benefit patients throughout the region,” says Joan Richards, Crozer-Keystone president and chief executive officer.

Nearly one in nine adults in the United States has chronic kidney disease. For patients with end-stage renal disease, there are three treatment options available today: live on dialysis; undergo a living-donor kidney transplant; or get on the organ-donor waiting list.

For more information about the program, call (610) 619-8420 or visit Temple-Crozer Kidney Transplant Alliance.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rebecca Harmon (Temple)

(215) 707-8229

Rebecca.harmon@tuhs.temple.edu

Grant Gegwich (Crozer-Keystone)

(610) 447-6316

Grant.gegwich@crozer.org