Carilion Clinic Kidney Transplant Program

Kidney Pt

Nationally and regionally, kidney disease is increasing:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 7 U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease. 
• It is the 9th leading cause of death in the country. 
• In Virginia, there are currently over 2,300 residents on the state’s waitlist for kidneys. 

Communities in Southwest Virginia lack adequate kidney transplant resources: 

• Southwest Virginia expects the need for kidney transplants to increase by nearly 35% over the next five years. 
• For 79% of kidney transplant patients in Southwest Virginia, accessing services they need requires a 2- to 4-hour drive. Living far from a transplant center, makes it difficult to reach critical services, resulting in long waitlist times and complicating care. 

The process of getting a kidney transplant begins long before the actual surgery, and care continues for the remainder of a transplant patient’s life. This process takes a physical, emotional and financial toll on patients and their families. Long-distance travel is just another added stress during an already difficult journey. 

Carilion hopes to ease the burden on patients by establishing a Kidney Transplant Program at its flagship hospital, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, bringing critical services close to home in Southwest Virginia.