A North Texas hospital has suspended its kidney transplant program because of concerns about patient care.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth voluntarily halted transplants while the United Network of Organ Sharing examines whether there are adequate surgeons on staff to cover patients' needs.
UNOS representatives are on site at the hospital's adult kidney-only transplant center this week.
In November of 2010, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services found that the hospital's graft survival rates for its transplant patients over a three-year period fell well below the normal range.
The expected rate survival was 93.9 percent, but THFW averaged 86.1 percent.
The hospital's vice president and chief quality control officer said the data does not take into account the cause of death in transplant patients.
The hospital was faced with termination from the Medicare program on July 20.
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But the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed to extend the termination date June 19, 2012, after the hospital made changes, including staff additions and a change in its medical director.
