Tulane Transplant Institute receives center of excellence designations

The Tulane Transplant Institute has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) for liver, kidney and pancreas transplants by Optum, a leading health services company. The COE designation recognizes organizations that provide high-quality, cost-effective care to patients receiving organ transplants.

Tulane earned the COE designations after completing a rigorous qualification process that took several factors into consideration, including a history of delivering excellent health outcomes – as measured by fewer health complications and hospital readmissions, among others – in a cost-effective manner.

“Few healthcare services require the highest levels of expertise, cooperation and patient follow-up as does a transplantation program,” said Dr. Robert Lynch, Tulane Health System's CEO. “The Tulane Transplant Institute not only meets these requirements but exceeds them. We are appreciative of this Center of Excellence designation for recognizing that hard work.”

The Optum COE model is built on more than 30 years of experience and focuses on expanding access to excellent specialty care - helping to ensure evidence-based treatment, improved clinical outcomes, reduced treatment costs and improved member experience.

“We selected the Tulane Transplant Institute as our newest Center of Excellence because of its commitment to providing outstanding care to patients receiving an organ transplant,” said Dr. Jon Friedman, chief medical officer at Optum for Medical Benefit Management. “We commend the Tulane transplant team for its excellence in providing the highest quality care for their patients.”

The Tulane Transplant Institute is one of the most experienced programs in the country, having performed the region's first living donor kidney transplant in 1955. Today, the program is a leader in kidney, liver and pancreas transplantation, as well as clinical trial opportunities.

Facilities and providers in the Optum COE Network are reviewed annually to ensure they continue to meet the high standards needed for designation. The Transplant COE Network includes 180 facilities and nearly 1,000 programs across the country, specializing in solid organ and stem cell transplants.

For more information about the Tulane Transplant Institute and its services, please visit Tulane Healthcare.