Miami Valley Hospital considers closing Kidney Transplant Center

Miami Valley Hospital officials met Tuesday to discuss the fate of its 43-year-old kidney transplant center, according to several sources informed about the discussions but not authorized to speak publicly.

Dr. William Rundell, the medical director for the Dayton office of Life Connection of Ohio, an organ procurement organization, and former director of the transplant program at Miami Valley Hospital, said MVH hospital officials have been involved in ongoing discussions about closing the transplant center due to financial constraints.

MVH officials declined to commented on the discussions.

By law, the hospital would have to give the Ohio Department of Health 30 days notice before it shut down the transplant center, and notify the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services of its intention to withdraw from the Medicare-certified transplant program.

Neither agency has received notification from MVH, officials there said.

According to Miami Valley Hospital’s website, the transplant center has a long history. More than 900 kidney transplants have been performed at the center since 1970. In 2009, the center transplanted 42 kidneys.

The transplant center, as well as the Kidney Dialysis Unit, are located on the third-floor in the west wing of the main building of MVH. The facility is an integrated center, with all aspects of the kidney program in one space. Surgeons, nephrologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, coordinators, dietitians, social workers and administration are all in one central location to focus on patient care.

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