New partnership in kidney transplantation provides most advanced patient care to Lubbock

UT Southwestern Medical Center and the University Medical Center Health System (UMC) in Lubbock, Texas, have forged a new partnership in kidney transplantation that provides the most advanced patient care, while enabling patients to prepare for and recover from surgery close to home.

Under the new partnership, patients in Lubbock and surrounding areas will continue to receive pre-transplant treatment, waitlist management, and post-transplant care from their established team at UMC (in conjunction with specialists from UT Southwestern), while transplant surgeries will be performed at UT Southwestern's state-of-the-art facilities in Dallas.

"This partnership provides the best care and service to kidney transplant patients, who are at the heart of the UT Southwestern/UMC partnership," said Carolyn Swann, Associate Vice President for Heart, Lung, and Vascular, and Solid Organ Transplant Services at UT Southwestern University Hospitals and Clinics. "Patients will continue their treatment close to home in Lubbock, have their transplant at UT Southwestern - a facility with some of the best long-term patient outcomes nationally - and then return home for their follow-up care and recovery."

The UMC transplant team is comprised of local physicians and professionals who are accessible around the clock for specialized transplant care needs. The Lubbock-based team has unique access to local resources and assistance programs for eligible patients.

"This is the best situation for our patients, combining the transplant expertise of UT Southwestern specialists with pre- and post-operative care here at home," said Kim Judd, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services at UMC. "Our goal is to continue providing the same safe, quality care patients expect from UMC with our new partner, UT Southwestern."

Dating back to the first kidney transplant performed in Texas, UT Southwestern's kidney transplantation program continues to be regarded as one of the most respected transplant centers in the state.

UT Southwestern's transplant programs provide comprehensive treatment for diseases that affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. Through innovation in clinical medicine and dedicated efforts in research and education, UT Southwestern has helped shape the field of medical transplantation.

With the opening of the William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital in late 2014, all transplants at UT Southwestern will be performed in this new, state-of-the-art facility. Clements University Hospital - designed around the needs of patients and their families - will be as innovative as the scientific discoveries for which UT Southwestern is known around the world.