The National Pancreas Foundation Announces the Designation of Seven Additional NPF Centers for the Care and Treatment of Pancreatitis
BETHESDA, MD – February 19, 2016 – The National Pancreas Foundation (NPF), a nonprofit organization that provides hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, announces the designation of seven additional National Pancreas Foundation Centers. There are now thirty-seven NPF Centers are at premier healthcare facilities that focus on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatitis, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life.
For people coping with pancreatitis or other pancreatic disorders today, there are inconsistencies in the level of care they receive. The NPF Centers designation will help facilitate the development of high-quality, multidisciplinary care approaches for the field. Designated centers will also seek to advance research and lead the way for heightened awareness and understanding of pancreatitis and related conditions among community physicians, allied health professionals, patients, families and the general public.
Approved NPF Centers had to go through an extensive auditing process and meet the criteria that were developed by a task force made up of invited subject matter experts and patient advocates. The criteria includes having the required expert physician specialties such as gastroenterologists, pancreas surgeons, and interventional radiologists, along with more patient focused programs such as a pain management service, psychosocial support and more. For a full listing of the criteria, please visit the NPF website.
“NPF Centers are of great benefit to the whole community,” said NPF Center Task Force member Dr. Timothy Gardner. “Having the NPF Center designation will help distinguish institutions whose focus is on patient centered care either for the treatment of their disease or to get an expert second opinion.”
“NPF Centers will also help to increase awareness of important NPF programs such as the National Patient Registry, the Animated Pancreas Patient and be a vital cog in the sharing and development of best practices,” said Matthew Alsante, Executive Director of the National Pancreas Foundation. “In addition to pancreatitis, the next phase of this program is to introduce NPF Centers with a focus on treating pancreatic cancer.”
The 7 Newly designated National Pancreas Foundation Centers are:
Indiana University School of Medicine/Indiana University Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital Medical Center of Plano Oregon Health & Science University, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Health SUNY Upstate Medical University Texas Children’s Hospital UCSF Benioff Children’s HospitalThey join our other NPF Centers, which include the following:
Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network Banner University Medical Center Baylor University Medical Center Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Geisinger Medical Center Hackensack University Medical Center/John Theurer Cancer Center Harvard Medical School / Boston Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions Mayo Clinic Florida Mayo Clinic Rochester Medical University of South Carolina Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Nebraska Medicine New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Pancreas Care Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Providence Portland Cancer Center Saint Louis University/ SLU Care Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases Stanford University The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center UMass Memorial Medical Center University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Chicago University of Florida/UF Health University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine University of Michigan University of Minnesota University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Virginia Mason Medical CenterAbout The National Pancreas Foundation
Founded in 1997, the National Pancreas Foundation provides hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer through funding cutting-edge research, advocating for new and better therapies and providing support and education for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. The NPF is the only foundation dedicated to patients suffering from all forms of pancreas disease. For more information visit: www.pancreasfoundation.org
Media Contacts
Matthew Alsante, Executive Director, National Pancreas Foundation, (866) 726-2737, malsante@pancreasfoundation.org.