Sharp Memorial Hospital placed on probation

Published on: Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Richmond, VA, Sept. 20, 2006 -- At its meeting today, the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors voted to place Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego on probation and required completion of a corrective action plan to address deficiencies in its pancreas transplant program. 

The OPTN/UNOS Membership and Professional Standards Committee (MPSC) began a confidential peer review of Sharp Memorial's pancreas transplant program based on functional inactivity (a period of more than six months since a transplant was performed). The review included an interview with representatives of the hospital in July 2006. The MPSC recommended probation because of deficiencies in its pancreas program.

Sharp Memorial remains qualified to continue to perform pancreas transplantation, as well as maintain its active kidney and heart transplant programs.  However, the entire institution will remain on probation until Sharp Memorial has demonstrated conclusively to the satisfaction of the MPSC and Board of Directors that it has accomplished all components of an acceptable plan of corrective action.  This plan includes enhanced reporting of pancreas program activity and outcomes to the OPTN and written notification to transplant candidates that the program is currently served by a single surgeon.

"Sharp Memorial has demonstrated a willingness to comply with OPTN requirements, and we appreciate their cooperation," said Dr. Sue V. McDiarmid, OPTN/UNOS president and chair of the OPTN/UNOS board of directors. "The MPSC and the Board, however, do find that probation is warranted to ensure that the institution demonstrates the expected standards of quality patient care and public trust that are vital to the nation's transplant system."

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is operated under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Transplantation by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The OPTN brings together medical professionals, transplant recipients and donor families to develop organ transplantation policy.