At UAMS Health, we offer transplant services to patients who receive kidneys from living donors.
More than 110,000 people are listed for organ transplants nationwide. Many face a lengthy wait for an available organ. To spare an individual patient a long and uncertain wait, relatives, loved ones, friends and even individuals who wish to remain anonymous may serve as living donors. In 2018 about 7,000 transplants each year are made possible by living donors.
If you are considering a living donation, it is critical to gather as much information as you can from various sources. If you know a person you would like to help through a living donation, talk to him or her and the transplant program where the person is listed.
Selection Criteria
Our Living Donor Kidney Transplant Program provides personalized support for both recipients and their living donors, offering guidance at every step-from referral through donation surgery and recovery. Living donation can significantly shorten a recipient’s wait time and lead to better long-term outcomes. Explore our website to learn more about each phase of the living kidney donor journey.
Selection CriteriaReferral
If you are interested in becoming a living donor, please complete the Living Donor Referral Form linked below. After you have completed the referral form, an Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA) will contact you and help you understand and navigate the living donor evaluation process. The ILDA will be your advocate throughout the donation process and will ensure that you are making informed and voluntary decisions.
Referral FormEvaluation
Living kidney donors undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure safety and suitability for donation. You will meet with a living donor coordinator who will guide you through the evaluation process and answer all of your questions. You will undergo lab tests, imaging, and consults with our multidisciplinary care team. Your privacy, autonomy, and health are our top priorities. Your donor team operates independently from your intended recipient’s team to avoid any conflict of interest. If at any point during your donation journey you decide to stop, we will not tell your intended recipient the reason.
- A Transplant Nephrologist (kidney doctor) will meet with you during your evaluation and review your kidney function, assess you physically, and discuss your evaluation process and testing that you will need.
- A Transplant Surgeon will also meet with you during your evaluation to ensure you are a good fit for donation from a surgical standpoint.
- A Living Donor Coordinator, who is a registered nurse, will be assigned to you during your evaluation. Your coordinator is your contact person within the transplant program. They oversee receiving and evaluating all your testing, labs, and studies and communicating with the other members of the team.
- An Independent Living Donor Advocate will meet with you prior to the start of your evaluation and will continue to support you throughout your donation journey and recovery. They will ensure that donation is in your best interest and that you are not being pressured to donate.
- A Social Worker will assess for any issues that could affect your recovery. They will determine if you have an appropriate caregiver, access to transportation to and from your appointments, and assess other psychosocial factors. They will be available throughout your donation journey and are always happy to help connect you with local resources.
- A Transplant Dietitian will review your current nutritional status and make suggestions to keep you healthy before and after your donation.
- A Pharmacist will review your current medications and provide education regarding any medication changes or interactions after donation.
Financial Resources
Sometimes individuals want to become living donors for a loved one but can’t afford the associated costs, which can make donation impossible. The NLDAC offers financial assistance for travel, living expenses, and one post-op visit, including rent, bills, car payments, childcare, or lost wages.
Living Donor Selection Committee
After your evaluation, our multidisciplinary team will discuss your case in our Living Donor Selection Committee. Once you are approved, your living donor coordinator will work with you to schedule your donation surgery.
Surgery and Recovery
You will be admitted the morning of your donation surgery and will have labs done prior to surgery per OPTN guidelines. After your surgery our team will provide education on caring for yourself during your recovery and when to follow-up in our clinic. Most donors can go home within a few days of their surgery and are able to return to normal activities within 4-6 weeks. UAMS will follow you for two years after donation per OPTN policy and report information at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after your donation. After donation it is very important that you have regular check-ins
Why Choose Living Donation at UAMS?
- Shorter Wait Times-Living donor transplants can eliminate years of waiting on the deceased donor list.
- Better Outcomes-Recipients of living donor kidneys typically have better long-term kidney function and survival.
- Comprehensive Donor Support-UAMS ensures that donors receive the highest standard of care, education, and post-donation follow-up care.
Becoming a Living Donor
Additional Information
- United Network for Organ Sharing
- Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — Health Resources & Service Administration Data Warehouse
- Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network