Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only known curative therapy for many patients with life-threatening malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases. More than 20,000 transplants are performed in the United States yearly and the NMDP estimates that the demand for unrelated donor transplantation will double over the next decade.
In September 2009, the NMDP organized a three-year program called the System Capacity Initiative (SCI) to figure out how our healthcare system could accommodate the growing number of patients in need of HCT. As survival for transplant has improved, more patients are eligible than ever before. The NMDP is leading the SCI, which involves representatives of many disciplines coming together to address issues such as workforce shortages, space constraints, patient access barriers, and other pressing issues that prevent appropriate access to transplantation now and in the future.
A Steering Committee, its chair and multiple NMDP staffers, serve to coordinate the functioning of seven Working Groups. Each Working Group is led by a Chair and Vice Chair who represents topic area expertise. Groups are composed of 13 – 20 key professionals, representatives of academic organizations, content experts and stakeholders.
Working Group Topics:
Physician Workforce
Advanced Practice Professionals Workforce
Nursing Workforce
Pharmacy Workforce
Diversity and Health Care Disparities
Facility Capacity and Care Delivery Model
Financial
National collaborative effort
The SCI would not be possible without the dedication of many experts and organizations who volunteer their time and talent to the program including: transplant centers, professional associations, research organizations, donor/registry organizations, payors and others.
Progress and results
The series of Symposia serves as a platform to fully vet the progress of the working groups and to obtain input from all participants on the recommendations coming out of the SCI. During 2012, prioritized recommendations will be implemented.
Questions?
E-mail questions to SystemCapacity@nmdp.org
Reference
- Majhail, N.S., Murphy, E.A., Denzen, E., Stickney Ferguson, S., Anasetti, C., Bracey, A., Burns, L., Champlin, R., Hubbard, N., Markowitz, M., Maziarz, R.T., Medoff, E., Neumann, J., Schmit-Pokorny, K., Weisdorf, D.J., Yolin Raley, D.S., Chell, J., Snyder, E.L. The National Marrow Donor Program’s Symposium on Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in 2020: A Health Care Resource and Infrastructure Assessment. Biol of Blood and Marrow Transplant. 2012. 18, 172-182.