UWHealth Preparing For Your Living Kidney Donor Evaluation User Guide

UWHealth Preparing For Your Living Kidney Donor Evaluation

Product Information

Specifications

• Product: Living Kidney Donor Evaluation
• Manufacturer: UW Health Living Donor Program
• Duration of Evaluation Visit: 7-8 hours on average
• Support Person: Encouraged to have a support person during the visit
• Required Documentation: Evaluation letter, list of questions, advance directives (if applicable), current medicines/supplements list
• Donor Team Members: Transplant Surgeons, Transplant Medical Doctors, Donor Coordinators, Donor Social Workers

Product Usage Instructions

Preparing for Your Living Kidney Donor Evaluation
Welcome to the UW Health Living Donor Program. We are committed to providing you with a care plan tailored to your needs. Before your evaluation, it is important to have a basic knowledge of how the kidney works.

Before Your Donor Evaluation Before your evaluation visit, several things must be done:

1. Schedule a visit
2. Prepare necessary documentation
3. Arrange for a support person to accompany you during the visit

What to Bring to Your Donor Evaluation

Make sure to bring the following items with you to your evaluation:

• Evaluation letter with itinerary and directions
• A support person, if desired
• A list of questions for the transplant team
• A light jacket or sweater for comfort
• A copy of your Advance Directives, if applicable
• Snacks or a sack lunch
• Something to keep you occupied (tablet, book, etc.)
• A list of your current medicines or supplements, along with the pill bottles

The Donation Process
The donation process involves a team of healthcare professionals
who will guide you through the evaluation and donation journey:

• Transplant Surgeons: They review your records, explain the surgery, and manage your care after the donation.
• Transplant Medical Doctors: They help determine if donation is the best option for you and may be involved in your post-donation care.
• Donor Coordinators: These nurses coordinate your care before and after donation, arrange necessary tests, and provide support throughout the donation journey.
• Donor Social Workers: They discuss support systems, work arrangements, and mental health, and assist with financial concerns related to donation. They can also help you complete advance directives if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a living kidney donation?

Living kidney donation occurs when you give one of your kidneys to someone whose kidneys are failing. The surgery involves removing your kidney and placing it into the recipient's body.

Can I live well with one kidney?

Yes, you can live a normal and healthy life with just one kidney. The recipient will experience improved health with the new kidney.

How long does the evaluation visit take?

The evaluation visit typically takes around 7-8 hours to provide the healthcare team with a complete overview of your health.

What should I bring to my donor evaluation?

It is important to bring an evaluation letter, a support person, a list of questions for the transplant team, a light jacket or sweater for comfort, a copy of your Advance Directives (if applicable), snacks or a sack lunch, something to keep you occupied, and a list of your current medicines or supplements with the pill bottles.

What do my kidneys do?

• Filter blood and send it back to the heart
• Balance fluid levels in the body by making urine
• Filter and balance minerals in the blood
• Control blood pressure
• Help to make red blood cells

Welcome to the UW Health Living Donor Program. The team takes pride in building a care plan tailored to your needs. We are committed to your success. UW Health is a national and international leader in the field of transplantation. We offer living donor transplantation with options for paired kidney exchange.

What is living kidney donation?
Living kidney donation happens when you give one of your kidneys to someone whose kidneys are failing. During this surgery, your kidney is removed and placed into the recipient’s body.
You can live well with one kidney. The recipient will have better health with their new kidney. A transplant from a living kidney donor is the best option for people who need a kidney transplant.

Kidney Donation

It is good to have basic knowledge of how the kidney works.

Before Your Donor Evaluation
Before your evaluation, a number of things must be done. Before a visit can be scheduled, you must:

• Go to http://uwhealth.org/canibeadonor to complete the kidney donor inquiry form
• Talk with the independent live donor advocate to discuss donation
• Talk with a Transplant Donor Coordinator to review your history

Donor Evaluation Visit

On average, a kidney donor evaluation visit takes 7-8 hours. It is meant to provide the team with a complete overview of your health. We encourage you to have a support person with you during the visit. During the visit you will need blood work and other imaging tests or procedures. General health testing will be needed before approval to donate.

What to Bring to Your Donor Evaluation

• Evaluation letter with itinerary and directions
• A person you have identified for support, if you would like.
• A list of questions you or your support person have for the transplant team.
• A light jacket/sweater for comfort
• Copy of Advance Directives if you have them filled out Snacks/sack lunch Something to do (tablet, book, etc.)
• A list of your current medicines or supplements and pill bottles. This list should include doses and why you take them.

The Donation Process

Evaluation

• In order to make sure donation is the best option, you will:
  •  Meet with the donor team.
  •  Have tests and labs done.
• This phase can take days, weeks or months.
• When your evaluation is done, your case will be discussed with the Transplant team to make sure you are healthy enough to donate. You will receive a phone call from the donor coordinator with the plan.

Waiting for Your Donation

This phase can last weeks or months.
If you are donating directly to your recipient, surgery can be scheduled when both you and the recipient are approved.

Surgery

• You will donate your organs and recover in the hospital.
• You will learn about after-surgery care.
• You will be in the hospital for 1-3 days.

Follow-up

• This phase starts when you leave the hospital. It lasts the rest of your life.
• Lab tests and follow-up care are needed.
• The donor team will support you long-term, so you can lead a normal, active, and healthy life.

Donor Team Members

Transplant Surgeons
Transplant surgeons may meet with you and your family during the evaluation. They review your record and test results and explain the surgery. They review the risks and benefits of donation. The surgeon does the surgery and works with other doctors to manage your care after the donation.

Transplant Medical Doctor
These doctors help to decide if a donation is the best option for you. They may be involved with your care after the donation.

Donor Coordinators
These nurses coordinate your care before and after the donation. They are involved from the time of the first referral until your 2-year follow-up is complete. They will also be there for you for any long-term donation problems. They arrange any tests needed. These nurses help you through the donation journey. They contact your local doctors and other healthcare facilities as needed. They teach you and your family and advocate for you.

Donor Social Workers
A transplant social worker will meet with you at your evaluation. They will talk with you about your support systems, time off of work, your drug/alcohol use, mental health, and how you cope. These questions help them learn more about your needs before the donation. They can assist with financial concerns related to donations and donor resources. They can also help you complete advance directives if needed. Social workers are available for support during your donation journey.

Clinical Dietitians
Clinical dietitians assess your nutritional status and your exercise routine. They help you to make a plan for good nutrition and exercise.

Physician Assistants (PAs)and Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
These advanced practice providers care for you before and after your donation. They check on you as you recover and help to manage your medicines. They also help to plan for your discharge needs. You will see them in transplant clinic before and after your surgery.

Surgical Residents and Transplant Fellows
These doctors mainly assist with hospital care. This includes getting you ready for and helping with surgery. They help to manage issues after surgery and prepare you for discharge. You may also see transplant fellows at transplant clinic visits.

Transplant Pharmacists
Pharmacists work with the team to make sure the medicines are used correctly. They watch for side effects and try to minimize them. They also help to manage the timing of the medicines.

Inpatient Transplant Nurses
These nurses care for you in the hospital. You will have a primary nurse. This nurse works with the rest of the team to get you ready for discharge.

Case Managers
Case managers focus on the plan for leaving the hospital. The case managers can help arrange outpatient care needs.

Transplant Clinic Nurses
These nurses care for you during clinic visits. They provide care and support for you after procedures. They arrange follow-up care and provide education.

Office Support Staff
Support staff answer your phone calls and work with the coordinators and other staff. They help coordinators to manage lab results and patient issues and concerns.

Spiritual Care
Chaplains help people find comfort and meaning from their faith during surgery recovery. Our chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support. They also perform sacraments. Faith and medicine offerings are provided in the hospital chapel.

Other Experts
Other doctors may be involved either during the evaluation or after donation. UW Health has many specialized team members who work with the rest of your team. Health psychology, cardiology, endocrine, and urology are just a few of the teams that can assist in your care if needed.

Other Services
Other services are available to help you and your family. For example, Interpreter Services help those who need translation. Housing assistance can help if you need short-term housing.

Financial Planning

UW Health pays the fees related to the living donor evaluation. The recipient’s insurance will pay for surgery fees.
Donors will pay for their own travel expenses, including food, gas, and hotel. A donor will need time off from work and may not have paid leave for this use. Resources are available to offset the cost of travel, lodging, child and elder care costs, and lost wages. There may also be tax benefits for you as a donor. You will receive information about these benefits at your evaluation.

Tips for Talking with Your Healthcare Care Provider

You and your healthcare team are working toward the same goal – good health for you. Talk together about your health and any problems you may have. Here are a few tips to make the most of your time together.

• Use clinic and hospital visits to learn how to best care for yourself.

  • Ask questions. Practice new skills. Get advice about what might work best for you.

• Be a partner in making decisions.
  

  • Ask about your options. Find out about the pros and cons of any decision. Plan your care with the healthcare team and others who support you.

• When you make an appointment, ask if you need any tests before you come in.
  

  • You may need to wait to eat or drink until after a test is done. Ask if you can do the test before your appointment. You may be able to get the results during your clinic visit.

• Prepare for your visit.

  • Think about the reason for your clinic visit. Write down what you want to tell your provider and any questions you have. Ask the person who comes with you to help keep track of questions and answers.

• Listen carefully. If you don’t understand, ask questions. Ask for more information if you need it. Take notes or ask for a written sheet if this would help you. Ask your healthcare provider:

  • What your health problem is
  • What caused it
  • What you should do about your health problem
  • When it will improve
  • If you need a follow-up visit

• Make sure you know and agree with the plan.

  • Repeat what you have heard to make sure you understand what was said.
  • Make sure the instructions are right for you. If they aren’t, tell your provider. The plan can be changed to better meet your needs.
  • Understand side effects and what to expect from any new medicines.
  • Find out who to call for questions after you go home.
  • Take your after-visit summary sheet at the end of a clinic visit. You can also find it in MyChart.

Your healthcare team may have given you this information as part of your care. If so, please use it and call if you have any questions. If this information was not given to you as part of your care, please check with your doctor. This is not medical advice. This is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Because each person’s health needs are different, you should talk with your doctor or others on your healthcare team when using this information. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Copyright ©1/2024. University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#8321

References

• Register as a potential donor - Donor Registration

Read User Manual Online (PDF format)

Download This Manual (PDF format)

Download this manual  >>