Tower Health today announced the satellite office of Penn Transplant Institute (PTI) opened at Reading Hospital on December 14. Pre- and post-transplant care at Reading Hospital are now being provided by the Penn Transplant Institute, and transplant surgeries will be performed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
The opening of the PTI satellite location at Reading Hospital ensures that patients will continue to have access to pre- and post-transplant kidney and liver care within the community following the closure of the Tower Health Transplant Institute (THTI) announced in August.
"Throughout this effort, one of our important goals was to minimize any disruption to patients who were on the THTI transplant waiting list," said P. Sue Perrotty, president and CEO of Tower Health. "I am happy to share that 94 percent of those patients have chosen to continue their care with the Penn Transplant Institute. This transition marks a new chapter for transplant services at Reading Hospital and for Tower Health. The Penn Transplant Institute is one of the largest and most experienced transplant programs in the country and is renowned for its clinical quality and innovations in treatment and patient care."
"Continuity of care for patients who are awaiting organ transplants is crucial, and we are proud to be able to provide world-class care to more patients as a result of this new care model with Tower Health," said University of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin B. Mahoney. "The Penn Medicine transplant team is the most experienced in our region, and we are at the ready to provide options for the latest approaches in transplant surgery and care."
The office for the Penn Transplant Institute at Reading Hospital is located in the Doctors' Office Building (DOB) and is staffed with many of the same THTI employees and physicians, including two nephrologists and two hepatologists. Patients will have convenient access to all pre-transplant evaluation and services, along with post-transplant surgery follow-up care in the DOB.
Establishing this satellite location of the Penn Transplant Institute at Reading Hospital marks a milestone in Tower Health's relationship with Penn Medicine. "I know our team at Reading is looking forward to collaborating with our colleagues at Penn as we care for patients and enhance access to transplant services in the region," Ms. Perrotty said.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a regional integrated healthcare system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to communities in Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. With more than 12,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare provided by Tower Health at Home; TowerDirect ambulance and emergency response; Tower Health Medical Group; and a network of 25 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.