Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas has been named a National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) Center, one of only 30 facilities in the country to receive this prestigious designation from the health advocacy group. Baylor University Medical Center is the only NPF Center in Texas and all surrounding states including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
The National Pancreas Foundation (NPF), a nonprofit group that works to provide education and hope for patients with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, created the designation to help patients find high-quality, multidisciplinary care. Designated centers also seek to advance research and awareness for pancreatitis and related conditions among community physicians, allied health professionals, patients, families and the general public.
"Patients with pancreatic disorders need comprehensive care provided by a multidisciplinary and integrated team of experts," said Lawrence Schiller, MD, acting chief of gastroenterology, Baylor University Medical Center. "It's humbling to be recognized as one of a few centers in the country to provide comprehensive care in treating complex diseases of the pancreas."
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas caused by an activation of digestive enzymes inside the organ. Treatments are geared toward helping the pancreas recover from inflammation, preventing problems with other organs such as the kidneys and lungs, and reducing pain and other symptoms.
Approved NPF Centers must go through an extensive auditing process and meet the criteria developed by a task force of clinical specialists and patient advocates. The criteria included having required expert physician specialties, along with more patient-focused programs such as a pain management, psychosocial support and more.
"Having the NPF Center designation means patients will know that we provide a high level of patient-centered care either for the treatment of their disease or to get an expert second opinion," said Scott Celinksi, MD, medical director of the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Treatment Center, Baylor University Medical Center.
Expert Care Includes Gastroenterology, Imaging, Transplantation and Oncology
The clinical team at the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Treatment Center includes physicians on the medical staff from a variety of specialties, including gastroenterology, interventional endoscopy, surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, pain management and genetics. Highly trained nurses, genetic counselors and nutritionists also serve as team members. These specialists are recognized leaders in pancreatic disease care, and can offer diagnostic and treatment options that are not available at most hospitals.
Baylor University Medical Center offers in-depth expertise for many pancreatic diseases including treatment for chronic pancreatitis through auto- islet cell transplants, performed by medical teams within Baylor Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute. In the procedure, the pancreas and spleen are removed and the patient's own islet cells are extracted. They are then infused into the patient's liver, where they take hold and produce insulin to prevent diabetes.
The Liver and Pancreas Disease Center, another unique program at Baylor University Medical Center, is dedicated to treating patients with liver and pancreas cancer. This center's team coordinates each patient's tumor management and plan of care among the specialists on the Baylor University Medical Center medical staff. Since the program's inception in 1998, more than 5,000 patients have received treatment.
In July 2015, the U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings listed Baylor University Medical Center No. 1 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and No. 3 in Texas. Baylor University Medical Center was also ranked among the country's top hospitals for Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#26 nationally) and Diabetes & Endocrinology (#41 nationally) by U.S. News & World Report. Fellow NPF Centers include Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Mayo Clinic, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital among others. A complete list of NPF Centers is available here.
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About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com