Nebraska Medicine’s lung transplant program has received approval from the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a Medicare-approved center for adult lung transplantation.
In order to serve Medicare beneficiaries, the program must meet comprehensive conditions of participation. The designation recognizes the program’s clinical experience, good outcomes, resources and commitment. It also means that Medicare beneficiaries from Nebraska and the surrounding states in need of lung transplants may receive them here instead of having to travel long distances for treatment of end-stage lung disease.
Reignited in 2015, the lung transplant program makes Nebraska Medicine one of the few institutions in the country to offer all solid organ transplants at one facility. The program offers a comprehensive approach to patient care with a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, nurses and other health professionals. Nebraska Medicine's lung transplant program offers single lung, double lung and heart-lung transplants. To date, 20 patients (ages 15-65) have received lung transplants at UNMC. In December, the transplant team performed the first heart-lung transplant in the state of Nebraska.
“The entire lung transplant team is very grateful for the support we received from the hospital, faculty and staff as our program started,” said Heather Strah, MD, assistant professor division of pulmonary, critical care, sleep and allergy and medical director of lung transplantation. “Our program’s successful start is the product of the hard work of literally dozens and dozens of people. We are honored to provide lung transplant care to the wonderful patients who choose UNMC.”