How you prepare

Choosing a transplant center

If your doctor recommends a kidney transplant, you'll be referred to a transplant center. You're also free to select a transplant center on your own or choose a center from your insurance company's list of preferred providers.

When you consider transplant centers, you may want to:

• Learn about the number and type of transplants the center performs each year
• Ask about the transplant center's kidney transplant survival rates
• Compare transplant center statistics through the database maintained by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients
• Find out if the center offers different donation programs that might increase your chances of receiving a living-donor kidney

You may also consider:

• Costs that will be incurred before, during and after your transplant. Costs will include tests, organ procurement, surgery, hospital stays, and transportation to and from the center for the procedure and follow-up appointments.
• Other services provided by the transplant center, such as support groups, travel arrangements, local housing for your recovery period and referrals to other resources.
• The center's commitment to keeping up with the latest transplant technology and techniques, which indicates that the program is growing.

Evaluation

After you've selected a transplant center, you'll be evaluated to determine whether you meet the center's eligibility requirements for a kidney transplant.

The team at the transplant center will assess whether you:

• Are healthy enough to have surgery and tolerate lifelong post-transplant medications
• Have any medical conditions that would interfere with transplant success
• Are willing and able to take medications as directed and follow the suggestions of the transplant team

The evaluation process may take several days and includes:

• A thorough physical exam
• Imaging studies, such as X-ray, MRI or CT scans
• Blood tests
• Psychological evaluation
• Any other necessary testing as determined by your doctor

After your evaluation, your transplant team will discuss the results with you and tell you whether you've been accepted as a kidney transplant candidate. Each transplant center has its own eligibility criteria. If you aren't accepted at one transplant center, you may apply to others.