Kidney Transplant Program Questions Every Patient Should Ask (recommended by the United Network of Organ Sharing - UNOS)

Patients should ask the following questions when evaluating a transplant center and its staff:

• What are my treatment options/choices besides transplantation?
• What are the benefits and risks of transplantation?
• What does the evaluation and testing process include?
• How does it affect whether I am put on the list?
• What are the organ and patient survival rates for my type of transplant at this hospital?
• How many of my type of transplants do you perform each year? How long have you been doing them?
• What are your criteria for accepting organ offers?
• What part of the transplant cost is covered by my insurance?
• What financial coverage is accepted by the hospital?
• How much will I have to pay?
• What happens if my financial coverage runs out?
• Who are the members of the transplant team and what are their jobs?
• How many attending surgeons are available to do my type of transplant?
• Who will tell me about the transplant process?
• Is there a special nursing unit for transplant patients?
• Can I tour the transplant center?
• Will I be asked to take part in research studies?
• Does the hospital do living donor transplants? Is a living donor transplant a choice in my case? If so, where will the living donor evaluation be done?
• What are the organ recover costs if I have a living done?

Other Questions to Ask

Does your program have social workers available to assist in making preparation?

• Does your program have financial counselors available to assist me with any insurance issues I may have?
• What type of follow-up care is available after my transplant has taken place?
• Are there support groups available for transplant patients? How can I contact these groups?
• How should I prepare myself for transplant?
• How will my diet change?
• How will my activity status change?