Considering Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplant is a treatment for kidney failure, not a cure. Learning what evaluation involves can help you decide what questions to ask and whether you want to move forward.
What to focus on now
Open the topics that are most useful to you. You do not need to read everything at once.
Understand the purpose of evaluationEvaluation is a process, not a single test.
Transplant programs review medical information, testing, psychosocial and practical factors, and whether transplant can be offered safely. Programs set their own acceptance criteria.
Compare transplant programsPrograms can differ.
Location, experience, waiting patterns, clinical practices, insurance participation, and support services may vary. National tools can help you prepare questions, but they cannot predict whether a program will accept you.
Learn about living donationA living donor can be one pathway.
Potential living donors are evaluated separately and must be able to make a voluntary decision. If a willing donor is incompatible, paired donation may be an option at participating programs.
Think about practical needsTransplant affects more than surgery.
Consider transportation, time away from work, caregiving, medication coverage, follow-up, and how you will stay in close contact with the transplant program.
Questions you may want to bring to your team
- What does your program require for evaluation?
- How does your program approach living donation and paired donation?
- What support person or caregiver expectations does your program have?
- What costs, insurance requirements, or medication coverage issues should I address early?
Useful starting points
These links are for general education and planning. Review important decisions with your own team.