By: Joseph G. Piemont, President and Chief Operating Officer of Carolinas HealthCare System
In January, the Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit at Levine Cancer Institute celebrated its one-year anniversary with much to be proud of. Each time I tour the unit, I become more and more impressed with the state-of-the-art equipment, as well as the compassion and care provided by every physician, nurse or social worker I come across.
Over the past year, the BMT team has performed more than 60 transplants – far exceeding the initial goal of 20 transplants. This would not be possible without the expertise of the Institute’s team of nationally renowned blood cancer specialists, led by Dr. Edward Copelan and Dr. Belinda Avalos, chair and vice-chair of the Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders at the Institute.
The unit houses 16 specialized beds, an apheresis unit for the collection of donor cells for patients, and a cell processing lab located on the fourth floor of Carolinas Medical Center. Additionally, an exercise room, laundry rooms and a family shower area are available, supporting the overall well-being of patients during the recovery period.
This is a real ‘game-changer’ for our patients, and for the region. Rather than having to drive nearly three hours away to receive treatment that can take up to six weeks, patients and their families have access to highly specialized care, and some of the best oncologists in the nation, right here in Charlotte.
I am honored to witness milestones such as this, as Carolinas HealthCare System continues to evolve and expand to meet the increased needs of our patients.
