Tulane Medical Center unveils $3.8 million bone marrow transplant unit expansion

Tulane Health System’s Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) program recently unveiled its newly renovated, state-of-the-art patient care unit at Tulane Medical Center with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and blessing of the unit.

The $3.8 million expansion project began in November of 2016 and included a complete remodel and expansion, increasing the number of patient beds from seven to 16. New, state-of-the-art airflow and water filtration systems run throughout the unit to ensure continued clean, filtered air and water for patients who have weakened immune systems. Additional amenities include an exercise/recreation room for patients to use during their hospital stay.

“This new unit is just one way we ensure blood cancer patients can access state-of-the-art care closer to home,” said Dr. Hana Safah, medical director of Tulane’s Bone Marrow Transplant program. Patients undergoing bone marrow transplants and stem cell therapies often spend long periods of time in the hospital. “Our new unit is not only a beautiful space with the latest technologies, but it was built for the comfort and emotional well-being of our patients and their family members.”

Founded in 1994, the Tulane Bone Marrow Transplant program takes a multidisciplinary approach to stem cell transplantation, which ensures patients stay connected to an entire care team of oncologists, hematologists, psychologists, nursing specialists, laboratory technicians and social workers. The program also provides access to stem cell transplant clinical trial options, which allow patients the opportunity to participate in promising therapies early in their development.

Tulane’s Bone Marrow Transplant Program is accredited by the internationally recognized Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), the Commission on Cancer and part of the Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Network. It is a FACT-accredited adult center for both autologous and allogeneic transplants, performing related and unrelated donor transplants. Additionally, it is the only National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) transplant, apheresis and collection center for adults in Louisiana.

The BMT Unit renovations are part of Tulane Health System’s year-long construction initiative to renovate and improve several areas of its downtown Tulane Medical Center campus. The $6 million in recent improvements also include the renovation of three medical/surgical units and the addition of a 128-slice CT scanner and 3 Tesla MRI.