Kidney transplant center in Austin and Central Texas
Our kidney transplant services are designed to help you achieve a better quality of life.
St. David's HealthCare includes a dedicated, kidney transplant center that features a collaborative team of specialists. We provide comprehensive care and support to transplant recipients, living kidney donors and their families.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Kidney Access Network at St. David's North Austin Medical Center
The St. David’s HealthCare–Medical City Healthcare Kidney Access Network is a collaboration between kidney transplant programs at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, Medical City Dallas and Medical City Fort Worth.
Through one home transplant center, qualified patients may be considered for listing at all three programs. This gives you access to deceased donor kidneys from three donor service areas and may help reduce the need for repeat testing.
How the Kidney Access Network works
A kidney transplant can be life-changing, but the waiting process can feel long and complex. Through the Kidney Access Network, qualified patients begin the evaluation process at one participating location, known as their home center.
If approved for listing at the home center, eligible patients may choose to have their information reviewed by our other participating centers. Each program independently determines whether you meet its listing criteria. Eligibility, evaluation requirements, wait time and transplant timing can vary by patient and program.
Ready to take the next step
You may be a candidate if you have kidney failure and are being considered for a kidney transplant. The transplant team at your home center can review your health history, answer your questions and help you understand your options.
Complete the patient referral form to find out whether the Kidney Access Network may be right for you.
Our Kidney Access Network location
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
12221 N. Mopac Expressway
Austin, TX 78758
Frequently asked questions
Will I need three separate evaluations?
No. You will complete your evaluation at your home center. If you are approved for listing there, the other centers can review your information to determine whether you qualify for listing at their programs.
Will I have to travel to all three locations?
In many cases, eligible patients may only need to travel to another participating center if a transplant opportunity becomes available there.
Does being listed through the network guarantee a faster transplant?
No. Wait times can vary from patient to patient. They depend on several factors, including donor availability, medical criteria and organ matching.
However, the Kidney Access Network gives qualified patients access to additional deceased donor kidneys opportunities, which may help reduce the overall time they wait for a transplant.
Our kidney transplant program
Created to prioritize your comfort and well-being, our comprehensive kidney transplant services include compassionate support at every stage of the transplant process.
Advantages of kidney transplantations
The goal of kidney transplantation is to restore energy and well-being to individuals with end-stage renal disease. Additional benefits of kidney transplantation over dialysis include:
- Greater life expectancy
- Improved quality of life
- Less restrictive dietary limitations
If you are already on dialysis, studies show the sooner you receive a kidney transplant, the better your chances are at achieving successful long-term function of the transplanted kidney.
Types of kidney transplants
Kidney transplantation has two sources: deceased donors and living donors. Deceased donor kidneys are graciously provided by families or individuals who agreed to organ donation, performed at the time of death. Living kidney donors are commonly relatives, spouses or friends confirmed to be suitable donors after undergoing a thorough evaluation.
Paired kidney exchange
Another source of living donor kidneys comes from the "paired kidney exchange" program. This involves matching incompatible donor recipient pairs to other incompatible pairs who may live locally or in other parts of the state or country.
Testing is conducted to see if the donor from one incompatible pair matches instead with the recipient of another incompatible pair and vice versa. The donor from each pair can then donate their kidney to the recipient of the other pair.
Kidney transplant evaluation
The first step of a kidney transplantation is evaluation. A physician referral is not required.
To begin, one of our team members will guide you through the questionnaire process when you call us at (512) 901-2880.
Kidney transplant cost
Typically, insurance covers the majority of costs associated with transplant surgery, post-transplant follow up and medications. Our team members will meet with you and your donor individually to discuss your specific insurance coverage.
Financial assistance for kidney transplants
For donors who need assistance, there are programs available to help cover a portion of the nonmedical costs. Some of these costs may include food, lodging or plane travel. Social workers are on-site to help donors apply for this assistance if they qualify.
Living Kidney Donor Program
We know making the decision to donate a kidney is a serious one, for both the donor and the recipient. St. David’s Living Kidney Donor Program offers an opportunity for donors to end the wait for prospective recipients and save lives.
Learn more about living donation and how you can help someone in need.
Our quick, online health questionnaire lets our team know more about you and your interest to become a living donor. You can get started today using these links:
For more information about our kidney transplant services, please call (512) 901-2880.
Increasing Organ Transplant (IOTA) Model
St David’s North Austin Medical Center Kidney Transplant has been selected and is a participant of the Increasing Organ Transplant (IOTA) Model. The model provides incentives for transplant hospitals to promote:
- Maximize the use of deceased donor kidneys
- Improve quality of care before, during and after the kidney transplantation
- Create greater access to a kidney transplant by addressing barriers to care
- Identify more living donors and assist potential living donors through the donation process
- Improve care coordination and patient-centeredness in the kidney transplant process