PITTSBURGH, July 19 (UPI) -- A report by a federal agency on a kidney transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center suggests more problems than the hospital has acknowledged.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said its investigation found the nephrologist should have been aware the kidney donor was infected with hepatitis C, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday. The hospital has suspended the lead surgeon and the transplant coordinator.
The CMS report said the test results were available for two months in the donor's medical record. But none of the doctors and nurses apparently reviewed the record, and the kidney was transplanted into a man who was not infected with the virus.
The United Network for Organ Sharing said Thursday that UPMC could resume its transplant program. The hospital stopped doing transplants voluntarily May 6.
CMS could deny UPMC Medicare funding for transplants. More than half are paid for through the program.
Dr. Abhinav Humar, the head of the UPMC transplant coordinator, said he is confident the hospital has developed appropriate corrections for its failures.
