Transplant 101: Helping Patients Navigate the Complexity of the Kidney Transplant Waitlist

Patients in need of a kidney transplant have the option of receiving a kidney from a living donor or a deceased donor. Patients in the United States who do not have an available living donor typically wait on the deceased donor waiting list for an average of three to five years, although some patients may wait longer. The waiting list is very complex and intended to allocate kidneys in a fair and equitable manner. The deceased donor waiting list is currently managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing, but a recent change will soon distribute its current functions to multiple different organizations with a goal to improve transplantation rates. This article discusses how to help patients navigate the complexity of the kidney transplant waitlist.