PHILADELPHIA (June 17, 2020) – The Fox Chase-Temple University Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Program (BMT) has received reaccreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
By demonstrating compliance with the FACT-JACIE International Standards for Cellular Therapy Product Collection, Processing, and Administration, the BMT has been reaccredited for adult allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation, peripheral blood cellular therapy product collection, and cellular therapy product processing with minimal manipulation. Also included is a new accreditation for immune effector cells.
“We sought FACT reaccreditation because it has evolved into a necessary qualification to be accepted and competitive in the field of cellular therapy,” said Henry Chi Hang Fung, MD, FACP, FRCPE, current director of the BMT and vice chair of the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase. “We believe FACT reaccreditation will make patients aware that our facility strives to achieve the highest quality care for cellular therapy treatment.”
FACT is an internationally-recognized accrediting body for hospitals and medical institutions offering stem cell transplant; it indicates the accredited institution has met the most rigorous standards in every aspect of stem cell therapy. This covers the entire spectrum of stem cell therapy, from clinical care to donor management, cell collection, processing, storage, transportation, administration, and cell release.
FACT-JACIE standards are defined by leading experts based on the latest knowledge of the field of cellular therapy transplantation. The bone marrow transplant program has been found to be in compliance with these rigorous standards as well as governmental regulations.
“We are pleased that the Fox Chase-Temple program has met the requirements of the foundation and has been granted reaccreditation,” said Phyllis Warkentin, MD, chief medical officer of FACT.
FACT reaccreditation is attained through evaluation of submitted documentation and onsite inspection to determine if an organization is in compliance with current FACT Standards. FACT standards are defined by leading experts based on the latest knowledge in the field of cellular therapy.
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About Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy
In December 1994, the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT) and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) merged their Standards into a single document covering all aspects of hematopoietic cell therapy (collection, processing, and transplantation). The two societies established FACT in order to develop a voluntary Inspection and Accreditation Program based on the joint Standards. FACT promotes quality medical and laboratory practice of cellular therapy through its peer-developed standards and voluntary inspection and accreditation program.
In 2006, FACT, in collaboration with the Joint Accreditation Committee–ISCT & EBMT (JACIE), developed international standards in the field of cellular therapy. JACIE was founded by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT), the two leading scientific organizations involved with cellular transplantation in Europe.
Since 2007, FACT accreditation has been used in determining the U.S. News & World report rankings of transplant centers for the “America’s Best Hospitals” and “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” list.
The FACT Inspection and Accreditation Program was developed by Phyllis Warkentin, MD, Chief Medical Officer of FACT, the FACT Board of Directors, as well as the ISCT and ASTCT (formerly ASBMT) Regulatory and Standards Committees. The first edition of the FACT standards was published in September 1996, and the first inspections began in September of 1997, resulting in the first program being awarded accreditation in 1998.