Florida Hospital Stem Cell Transplant program designated as Center of Excellence

The adult stem cell transplant program at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute has been designated an Optum Network Center of Excellence (COE) by the Clinical Sciences Institute (CSI) of Optum, the largest global contract for bone marrow transplant (BMT). This COE designation will allow Florida Hospital to see all patients in the local area holding United, Florida Hospital Healthcare System, and other large insurances instead of patients and care givers travelling to other hospitals outside the area.

“We are thrilled that our adult stem cell transplant program has been recognized by Optum as a Center of Excellence,” said Kimberly Lower, Associate Director of the Florida Hospital Outpatient Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic. “This is the largest COE designation, we expect that this will greatly increase our transplant volumes immediately and our patients can stay closer to home.”

The adult stem cell program at the Florida Hospital is the largest center in the region, conducting more than 140 transplants per year treating a wide range of conditions, including aplastic anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, bone marrow failure syndromes, germ cell tumors and neuroblastoma. 107 transplants were completed in 2012 while 146 have been completed YTD 2013. The program is the first and only program of its kind in Central Florida.