Cancer

Spectrum Health Performs 200th Adult Bone Marrow Transplant

Spectrum Health’s adult blood and marrow transplant (BMT) program reached another milestone when it performed its 200th transplant.

Both the 199th and 200th transplants took place on December 31, 2015. The adult program began performing transplants in February 2013.

“This is an impressive accomplishment,” said Judy Smith, MD, chief, Spectrum Health Cancer Center. “The fact that we have reached this milestone in only three years says a great deal about both the need for a local program and the exceptional team we have in place.”

Blood and marrow transplants are a treatment option for patients who have cancer, immune system disorders, metabolic disease and other life-threatening conditions. There are four adult BMT programs in Michigan. Spectrum Health is the only adult BMT program in the western half of the state. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has been providing blood and marrow transplants to pediatric patients since 1998.

A local program for adults has been welcomed by patients awaiting a transplant.

“This is a tough experience to go through alone,” said Stephanie Williams, MD, who oversees the adult program. “The typical BMT patient can spend up to a month in the hospital. They continue their recovery in a protected environment for another one to two months and then return frequently for check-ups. Having to travel far and stay away so long after a transplant is emotionally difficult, disruptive and expensive for our cancer patients and their families.”

The Spectrum Health adult BMT program has reached many milestones in its short existence:

  • November 2012 – Adult BMT Program Established
  • February 2013 – First Program Transplant
  • October 2013 – Received Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) Accreditation. FACT accreditation is used in determining the U.S. News & World Report rankings of transplant centers for the “America’s Best Hospitals” and “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” list.
  • February 2014 – Adult BMT Clinic opens at Spectrum Health Cancer Center in the  Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion
  • April 2014 – First Matched Unrelated Donor Transplant
  • August 2014 – First Adult Cord Blood Transplant
  • December 2015 – 200th Adult Transplant Performed
  • Spring 2016 – Opening New 18-bed BMT Unit at Lettinga Inpatient Cancer Center at Butterworth Hospital

“It has been a busy three years,” said Dr. Williams. “We look forward to the future and to continuing to serve our patients both in Western Michigan and across the region.”

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system, based in West Michigan, offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of 12 hospitals, including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; 183 ambulatory and service sites; more than 3,400 physicians and advanced practice providers, including nearly 1,400 members of the Spectrum Health Medical Group; and Priority Health, a health plan with about 658,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer, with 23,800 employees. The organization provided $283 million in community benefit during its 2015 fiscal year. Spectrum Health is the only health system in Michigan to be named one of the nation’s 15 Top Health Systems® by Truven Health Analytics for 2015. This is the fourth time the organization has received this recognition.  www.spectrumhealth.org