Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Transplant at
UK HealthCare
1. How can I be seen or evaluated at the UK HealthCare Transplant Center?
2. Must a patient be referred by a specialist?
3. What insurances do you accept? Do some insurance companies provide more coverage than others for transplant procedures?
4. How long is the wait for a transplant?
5. Do all patients get listed for transplantation?
6. How will I know when I have been placed on the transplant waiting list?
7. Can I be on more than one transplant center's waitlist at the same time?
8. Do you offer living donor kidney transplantation?
9. What is the advantage of a live donor vs. a cadaveric donor for a person who needs a kidney transplant?
10. What happens if I do not have a living donor?
11. Can anyone become a donor?
12. How do I register as a donor?
13. I am interested in donating one of my kidneys to a family member or friend. What steps are
involved? What costs can I expect to encounter?
14. Are there any long-term effects from donating a kidney?
15. I have insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. How do I know if I am a candidate for a pancreas transplant?
16. Does your center offer living liver donation as an option?
17. I'm from out of town. How long will I need to remain in the Lexington area before or after my transplant?
18. I live outside the United States. Can I still come to your center to receive an organ transplant?
19. Can I sell my organs?
If your physician believes that you are a candidate for an organ transplant, he or she will refer you to our center. At that time, you will be evaluated and undergo a series of tests to see whether you are a transplant candidate. Our transplant team will evaluate the results of clinical, psychosocial and financial information to determine whether you should be listed for a transplant.
Your physician can contact the UK HealthCare UK MDs at 1-800-888-5533 or 859-231-9922 to make the referral. Access the online physician referral form.
No. Patients may refer themselves or they can be referred by their primary care physician. We will need permission to obtain medical records from other treatment facilities.
UK HealthCare works with a continually growing list of insurance companies. Our financial counselors will work with you and your insurance company to determine the level of coverage available should you need an organ transplant. To reach our financial counselor, call 859-323-9347.
Length of time on the waiting list depends on many things:
- Blood type
- Antibody status
- Organ for which you are waiting
- Willingness to consider the expanded criteria donor (donor may be older or have certain medical conditions)
- Living donor possibilities
Your transplant coordinator can answer your questions after gathering more specific information.
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Not all patients may be suitable candidates for transplantation. Each patient will need to undergo a series of tests to determine appropriate medical suitability.
The transplant coordinator assigned to you will contact you by phone and explain several aspects of what it means to “go on the list.” You will then be placed on the waiting list. You will also receive a letter informing you that you are on the list.
Yes, you can be listed for an organ transplant at more than one center. Multiple listing involves registering at two or more transplant centers in different locations. Multiple listing may increase your chances of receiving a local organ offer. For more information about multiple listing, please review this UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) brochure. File size is 1.1MB and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Yes. Kidneys can come from both deceased and living donors. Deceased (cadaveric) donors are donors who have been declared brain dead and whose families have agreed to organ donation. This has been the main source of transplantable kidneys. However, kidney donations from living donors are increasing. Click to view additional information about our live donor kidney transplant program.
Studies show that persons who have a live donor kidney transplant experience a higher success rate as well as a longer life span of the transplanted organ. Also, with a live donor, the long waiting period on a transplant list can be avoided.
If there are no possible living donors, you will be listed for a kidney from a cadaveric donor on the national waiting list. The time required to wait for a kidney transplant can vary according to your blood type and medical background.
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A donor can be anyone in good health and with two kidneys. While relatives are more likely to donate, non-relatives can also donate. Donors can be spouses, significant others, friends, neighbors or others interested in being a living donor.
Please have your potential donor contact the Transplant Center at 859-323-6544 or 1-866-474-6544 and ask to speak to the donor coordinator. Their questions will be answered, a referral form will be completed at that time and a packet of information about the living donor process as well as forms needed to initiate the process will be mailed to them.
You can indicate your wish to be an organ donor by signing your driver's license or a donor card. Make sure you tell your family about about your decision so your wishes may be honored. You can also register online through the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry.
Thank you for your interest in becoming an organ donor. We recommend you visit the Coalition on Donation at www.shareyourlife.org. This organization provides detailed information on how to become a donor. You can fill out the necessary information online or request a free brochure to help answer any questions. Finally, you as the donor will not encounter any costs before or after the transplant procedure. All costs would be covered by the transplant recipient's insurance company.
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No long-term medical conditions resulting from live kidney donation have been identified. Surgical complications, such as pain, hernia and infections are rare. Live kidney donors are expected to lead normal lives post-donation, practice good health habits and have a yearly health checkup.
The evaluation process, as well as past medical history will help determine whether you are a candidate for a transplant. If you are a transplant candidate, these evaluations will also help determine the best type of transplant for you.
We do not perform living liver donation transplant procedures at this time.
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Once your evaluation is complete, you can generally return home until an organ becomes available. Your time in Lexington after the transplant depends on several factors including medical status, resources near your home, follow up treatment needed and support systems.
Yes, we will evaluate you at our center. However, in order to begin our evaluation process, we would request payment based on the type of transplant procedure needed prior to services. The prepayment will be credited to an account established with UK HealthCare and utilized as you receive services by our physicians. If there is a credit balance upon completion of all your needed care, a refund will be given. In the event that your care costs more than the original prepayment amount, you would be expected to pay the additional charges. If you would like additional information on transplantation services at UK HealthCare, please contact us at 1-800-333-8874.
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No. It is a federal crime to sell organs within the United States.
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