The Catalyst Issue 20 | December 2014 | Page 10

INNOVATION to heal patients and give them hope 100 REASONS TO CELEBRATE The Stem Cell Transplant Program receives accreditation, and specialists treat their 100th patient has been a banner year for the Autologous Transplant Program at Scott & White Healthcare. The program achieved two notable distinctions in 2014: in February the 100th patient received a stem cell transplant, and in July the program received accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), an internationally recognized body that sets standards for stem cell therapy. Scott & White is the only FACTaccredited stem cell transplant program in Central Texas. “Our goal from the beginning of It 10 THE CATALYST December 14 | sw.org the program in 2005 was to be FACT accredited, because it means we provide a level of quality therapy across the continuum of what patients need,” says Christian Cable, MD, an oncologist and director of the Autologous Transplant Program. “It’s a significant milestone to achieve the FACT accreditation and treat our 100th patient in the same year,” he says. The accreditation assures stem cell transplant patients that they will receive best-in-class treatment at Scott & White, just as they would at any other FACT accredited center, says pathologist Walter J. Linz, MD, program processing and collection facility medical director. “This is important because it allows Central Texas patients to have the opportunity to stay home to receive the best care. They get the same level of care in Central Texas as they would at any other FACT accredited program,” says Dr. Linz, who specializes in transfusion medicine. Dr. Linz also believes the integrated resources and pool of talent available at Scott & White were important catalysts to achieving certification. Autologous blood stem cell