Florida Hospital Transplant Center (see more articles like this)

“The establishment of these transplant services is a natural extension of our transplant, cardiac, and thoracic programs,” said Randy Haffner, administrator of Florida Hospital Orlando. “Our proven excellence over our 35-year transplant history would allow us to bring that same expertise to heart and lung transplants and continue providing life-saving transplants to patients right here where they live.”

A decision by AHCA on the program that would include heart and lung transplant services is due on Aug. 22.  Florida Hospital estimates the heart and lung transplant services could be operational within 12 months once CON approval is granted. 

These two solid organ services would add to the existing transplant services currently performed at Florida Hospital Orlando, which includes kidney, pancreas, liver, and bone marrow. 

Florida Hospital cares for more cardiac patients annually than any other hospital in the United States, and the clinical outcomes for its cardiology programs consistently exceeds national benchmarks.  In fact, Florida Hospital has the fourth largest open heart surgery program and the second largest thoracic surgery program in the United States, according to MedPAR.

Since it began performing transplants in 1973, Florida Hospital has performed more than 2,500 kidney transplants and is considered one of the most active kidney transplant programs in the United States.  In 2007, Florida Hospital added pancreas and liver transplants to its program.

Florida Hospital is currently building a 15-story patient tower that will house the Florida Hospital Cardiovascular Institute and provide the infrastructure and technology for the Cardiovascular Program.   The Ginsburg Tower will open in November 2008, when Florida Hospital marks its 100th year of service to the community.

“We have clearly demonstrated our history and excellence in transplant and cardiothoracic services, as well as our commitment to growth and the future,” said Rich Morrison, regional vice president of Florida Hospital. “Our hope is that we will soon be expanding our transplant program to begin providing heart and lung transplants to the patients we serve.”