Our kidney transplant team has streamlined the intake process to ensure that patients have quick and easy access to appointments and care. Referred patients are seen by our team within two weeks. Outreach coordinators assist them with all necessary forms and collection of medical and insurance information. Patients undergo thorough evaluation and workup before being placed on the kidney transplant waitlist to ensure they are good candidates and reduce the chances that they will be delisted before their procedures.
Surgeons at Rush perform 100 to 200 kidney transplants each year, which means patients benefit from an experienced team that can still provide individualized, hands-on care. Patients get to know their surgeons and coordinators personally, and specialists help them with education, support and management of treatment before and after surgery.
Referring physicians are always included in the process. They not only receive letters about their patients’ care plans, evaluation results, waiting list status and all other relevant information, they can also maintain personal and direct communication with our transplant surgeons.
Who Are Ideal Candidates for Kidney Transplant at Rush?
Rush surgeons are adept in handling both standard and complex transplants. They have expertise in more difficult cases, including patients with cardiac and vascular disease, as well as second- or third-time retransplants.
Our team evaluates patients individually, even if they have been turned down as candidates for transplant surgery at other medical centers. They also can connect patients with social workers, nutritionists, psychologists and other specialists to address risk factors that can create barriers to wait list placement.
Why Refer Patients Here?
- Excellent outcomes: Our kidney transplant surgery patients have some of the best survival rates among transplant programs in Chicago, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.
- Nationally recognized care: U.S. News & World Report includes Rush University Medical Center on its 2023-24 Best Hospitals Honor Roll and designates our kidney failure program as “High Performing,” significantly better than the national average.
- National Kidney Registry participation: For patients who have living donors who do not have matching kidneys, Rush participates in the National Kidney Registry, a nonprofit that uses an algorithm to pair them and their donors with thousands of other potentially matching patients across the country. This can reduce the wait time before transplant and ensure that all parties are able to donate and receive living kidneys.
- Expertise with complex cases: Patients with complicated health histories, including those with HIV, hepatitis C, heart and vascular disease or previous transplant surgeries, will benefit from experienced providers who collaborate with experts across many specialties to address their unique needs.
- Convenient follow-up care: Patients have the option of receiving postsurgical care at our center in Chicago, but they can also get follow-up treatment at our location in Crown Point, Indiana.
What Is the Process for Referring a Patient?
To refer a patient or request a consult, call (312) 942-6642. Visit our page on Referring and Transferring Patients for more details and to find a provider referral form.
Referring physicians will continue to be informed on any recommended patient care, evaluation results and waitlist status for their patients. They will have the ability to directly contact the surgeon, as well.
Conditions We Treat
- Diabetes
- Kidney Disease
- Kidney Failure
Treatments Offered
- Dialysis
- Kidney Transplant
- Kidney-Pancreas Transplant
- Living Donor Transplant
