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The patient path

The kidney transplant path, one stage at a time.

Referral, evaluation, waitlisting, transplant, and follow-up are separate stages. Each has a different decision-maker and a different next question.

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The seven stages.

  1. Discuss

    Ask your kidney-care team whether transplant should be discussed.

    Owner: your care team and you.

  2. Refer or contact

    A clinician may refer you, and a program may explain how contact works.

    Owner: referring team and transplant program.

  3. Evaluate

    The transplant program reviews your health, records, and preparation.

    Owner: transplant program.

  4. Decide and list

    The program explains its candidacy and waitlisting decision.

    Owner: transplant program.

  5. Maintain status

    Ask how active or inactive status, contact details, and required follow-up work.

    Owner: transplant program and patient.

  6. Prepare for transplant

    Follow the program’s instructions for a living-donor or deceased-donor path.

    Owner: transplant program.

  7. Follow up

    After transplant, medicines, monitoring, and communication continue.

    Owner: transplant team and patient.

HRSA: The transplant process and NIDDK: Kidney transplant describe the process. Timing and requirements vary by program and person.

A barrier belongs in the plan.

Travel, housing, work, cost, communication, records, and caregiver support can affect how a step gets completed. Name the barrier and ask who can help. A barrier does not by itself decide eligibility.

Ask who owns the next task.

“Who is arranging this appointment?” “Who can confirm the result?” “When should I check back?”

Ask for the source of status.

Your transplant program confirms evaluation, listing, active or inactive status, and program-specific requirements.

The living-donor branch.

A living-donor path includes a recipient evaluation and a separate donor evaluation. Ask the transplant program how those paths work and how donor questions can be answered independently. No potential donor should feel pressured.

Follow-up continues after surgery.

A transplant is treatment, not a universal cure. The transplant team gives instructions about medicines, monitoring, warning signs, and who to call. There is no single recovery timeline that applies to everyone.

Bring home these questions: “Which medicines must I take?” “Which symptoms require a call?” “Who is my first contact?” “When is my next appointment?” NIDDK: Kidney transplant

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Sources checked September 12, 2026. General U.S. information; your transplant team explains what applies to you.