Which transplant hospital/clinic did you use?

[Roxy]

I was thinking since a lot of people sometimes need to "shop" around and it can get very frustrating and uneasy trying to figure out where they are comfortable to do a transplant, we could start a list talking about which hospital/clinic we used and the pros/cons, plus possibly any other ones we might have tried and why those were not chosen. And any other additional info that might be helpful to future recipients.

I went to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. They have the non-steroid protocol option plus they are constantly doing research projects which sometimes involve steroids if people are more comfortable with that. The transplant team was great and always on the ball. They are very picky about the patients because they are extremely concerned about people screwing up their statistics. However, this makes them also very attentive with the care they provide. Overall, I'm happy with them 

[okarol]

Hi Roxy,
Swedish was one of the hospitals we were going to multiple list at if nothing happened with the living donor. Jenna was listed with California Pacific Hopspital in San Francisco, USC in Los Angeles, and ultimately got her transplant at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, CA. Scripps was wonderful, from the very first contact all the way through to nearly 8 months post-op now.

You can also view current and historical information accumulated about individual transplant centers --> http://www.unos.org/data/about/viewDataReports.asp

[Beth36]

My mom was tested initially at UAB in Birmingham and when they found she has high PRA, they pretty much dropped her.  They STILL have NOT called us with our blood test results.....BUT the day we found out she has high PRA, we found that Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN can treat it.  So, she will have her transplant there. 


Beth

[BigSky]

This site will let you check out the various states and their transplant centers and check how many people are listed at a center and the various transplant rates at the center.

http://www.ustransplant.org/csr/current/csrDefault.aspx

[livecam]

UCSD Hillcrest in San Diego.  I'm very pleased with the results.

[mrhecht]

Well, I have not transplanted yet, but I tested at two centers. UTMB Galveston, Texas was the 1st one and the testing was done so impersonally and without any thought to patient dignity or comfort so I declined their offer of a cardiac cath and went to The Methodist Hospital in Houston where I have been very pleased so far with information given, patient education and communication with the coordinators. I like the surgeons and know the staff.

I later found out through a reliable source that UTMB recently received a multi-million dollar grant to revamp their transplant program. They brought in new surgeons and coordinators. They needed new coordinators because the one I dealt with 2 years ago was a moron.

The interesting part about them getting the grant is that they were about to lose their Medicare certification. They serve a large low-income population, so its good that they got the money to make the program better. I hope it does improve because I would be able to list there in addition to Houston.

[Meinuk]

I'm at St. Lukes's Manhattan.  I really like Dr. Benvenisty - he came highly recommended.  He also did my fistula. And he recommended me to a wonderful surgeon when I needed other surgery.  They make you feel special even when there are hundreds of other people on the service. Not to say that after 2 + years I'm thinking about being multi-listed.  I'm just so sick of going to Dr's appointments right now, the thought of going to an additional medical center out of state just saps all of my energy.  Now that I am starting home hemo, I think that I'll just wait...

[angela515]

1st transplant, Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas, NV.

2nd, Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, IA.

No complaints with either.

[waitlisted]

I will be going to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX

All evaluation work at Dallas Transplant Institute has been going very smoothly.

[Lulu]

Bigsky thanks for the transplant center link. Very helpful.

I am currently trying to get in a transplant center and not having much luck. One in Orlando, FL sent a giant application package for me "to be considered." They also sent lab results for another patient with the packet by accident. So, don't think I will be using them. I was thinking about going to Southwest Regional in Ft. Myers, FL but I am having trouble getting them to accept me because I do not have medicare part B yet. Which, technically is automatically granted once I am admittted. I don't want to go to Miami. So, I am currently at a loss for what to do. Any suggestions? Anyone know anything about Florida transplant centers? And how do I choose a center what should I look for and what questions should I ask? Most Grateful for any help. Lulu

[keefer51]

I received my first transplant at Lehigh Valley hospital in Allentown Pennsylvania. My brother and i were the first sibling donor transplant at the hospital.

[Zach]

So, I am currently at a loss for what to do. Any suggestions?

Try Tampa, they seem to do a good number of kidney transplants.  Sorry, I don't have any more info.
Since Florida has no helmet law, your wait may not be as long as elsewhere.
 

[st789]

St. Vincent in los angeles.

[rimbo74]

Baylor Medical Center of Dallas - transplant
DTI (Dallas Transplant Institute) - Transplant Clinic

[vandie]

Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA

[paris]

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, listed Dec. 2005   Average wait-6 years
                                                                                                                   

No average wait time given for someone with PRA of 100%---well, they did say something

     
Carolina Medical Center, Charlotte,N.C., listed May 2006       Average wait-2 years     

about 30 years or when hell freezes over!!!

Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore Md., listed Feb. 2006       

The second two centers do positive crossmatch transplants.  They all have been very willing to share tests results with each other(with no cost to me). I have been impressed with all three. I will say Carolina Medical Center was very quick with appointments and tests.

[Beth36]

LuLu

I heard that Florida has the shortest wait time for a kidney.  Mayo Clinic has a location in Florida in Jacksonville.  Tampa has Tampa General.  I don't know anything about these two places but they are the only two I know of.  I am sure there are lots of others.


Beth

[lola]

Otto and his brothers have had a total of 7 transplants all at the University of Minnesota and Otto's 2nd will make 8 needless to say they are awesome in our eyes.

[Romona]

University of Pittsburgh's Starlz's Transplant Institute. No complaints. I love them! 

[Jill D.]

Mayo Clinic/Rochester Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN

[Roxy]

And how do I choose a center what should I look for and what questions should I ask? Most Grateful for any help. Lulu

Lulu, for me it was important to check the statistics of the hospital. I was definitely more comfortable knowing that my transplant team was performing transplants weekly. You definitely want to be very comfortable with the team and have a good relationship. They're going to be taking care of you for as long as your new kidney works, so you want to make sure that you trust and have faith in their knowledge and abilities. When you meet with a transplant team, make sure they explain the process to you in detail; I know different hospitals sometimes do slightly different procedures before, during, and after transplant. Also, before you meet with a transplant team you might want to figure out if you prefer a steroid or non steroid treatment post transplant. This will help you in determining a hospital as well.  You might want to ask if they place a stent, because not all hospitals do this; so it is just good to know before hand. If I can think of anything else I will let you know. I hope some of this helped.

[angela515]

Also, before you meet with a transplant team you might want to figure out if you prefer a steroid or non steroid treatment post transplant. This will help you in determining a hospital as well. 

Not everyone is qualified to do this even if the hospital does it.. different factors allow people to either be able to go on a steroid or steroid-free protocol, just wanted to let that be known as well.

Speaking of your transplant team taking care of you for as long as your transplant works... this is what keeps me from moving, not that I am going to be moving right now anyways, but I mean.. I was thinking about it for in a few years.. and I just don't know if I want to give up my team for another one when I love this one so much..

[Roxy]

Speaking of your transplant team taking care of you for as long as your transplant works... this is what keeps me from moving, not that I am going to be moving right now anyways, but I mean.. I was thinking about it for in a few years.. and I just don't know if I want to give up my team for another one when I love this one so much..

Angela, good point about if people qualify for steroid vs. steroid free. Would your transplant team still stick with you if you lived in another state? I moved back to California and my team is in Seattle, but I stay in contact with them. I have a nephrologist here and if there is anything either of us get unsure about we contact the team. On top of that they get a report of all of my labs as if I was still there. I also plan on going to Seattle to "check in" with them every six months or so. I was just wondering if something like this was possible with your team??

[angela515]

I sure will ask about that Roxy... I was just planning on moving 4 hours away if I move at all... so I guess I could even still come back and so on, once I get to the point of every 3 months and so on.. Thanks!

[Roxy]

  No problem. I like it because I can live where I want, but my team is still very much "in charge" of my care. I love my doctor here, but he's not extremely familiar with steroid free protocols so it's more comforting to know he has to check with my transplant team if he wants to make any changes.