Bone marrow transplant program earns reaccreditation

The bone marrow transplant program at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has once again been accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).

This marks the fifth consecutive time that the program has been recognized by FACT, which reviewed the Medical Center's clinical bone marrow transplant program, as well as bone marrow and cellular therapy product collection and processing facilities. The program received initial FACT accreditation in 2001 and was reaccredited in 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2014.

FACT standards are evidence-based requirements set by teams of world-renowned experts in cellular therapy. FACT is the only accrediting organization that addresses all quality aspects of cellular therapy treatments.

“FACT accreditation sends the message that Penn State Hershey strives to achieve the highest level of care for cellular therapy treatment programs,” said Dr. Witold Rybka, professor of medicine and pathology, and director of the Medical Center's bone marrow transplant program.

The Medical Center's bone marrow transplant program is the only integrated program in Pennsylvania to be accredited for both adults and children. Penn State Hershey physicians have performed more than 1,750 bone marrow transplants since 1996.

Bone marrow transplants are used to treat many forms of cancer including acute leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and neuroblastoma (a neurological tissue tumor occurring mostly in children). Aplastic anemia and other bone marrow diseases are also treated with transplants.

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