This Transplant Change Package was created by collecting best practices from highly effective outpatient dialysis facilities and transplant centers. It identifies proven roads to success (Primary Drivers) and actionable resources (Secondary Drivers) to support small changes or ideas to help dialysis facilities reach transplant referral and wait list goals. The Network encourages dialysis facilities to review the Change Package with the IDT during monthly Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) meetings to design a plan for the facility.
Florida Transplant Centers:
- Tampa General Hospital: https://www.tgh.org/services/transplant/kidney-transplant
- UF Health Shands: https://ufhealth.org/kidney-transplant
- Largo Medical Center―Transplant Institute of Florida: https://largomedical.com/specialties/kidney-transplant
- The Miami Transplant Institute: https://jacksonhealth.org/transplant/
- Mayo Clinic Kidney Transplant Program: https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/kidney-transplant/home/orc-20203197
- Halifax Health Center for Transplant Services: https://www.halifaxhealth.org/services-treatments/our-services/transplant
- Ascension Sacred Heart Kidney Transplant Program: https://healthcare.ascension.org/Locations/Florida/FLPEN/Pensacola-Ascension-Sacred-Heart-Kidney-Transplant-Program
- Cleveland Clinic Florida Kidney Transplant Program: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/florida/departments/transplant/depts/kidney
- Advent Health Orlando Transplant Institute: https://www.adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-orlando/transplant-institute
- Memorial Healthcare System Transplant Institute: https://www.mhs.net/services/transplant
Transplant Medication Resources:
- American Society of Transplantation (AST) Medication Access and Drug Shortage Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Patients should always contact the transplant center that they are working with. There are financial coordinators that may be able to provide advice.
- Most pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs for their medications. It can sometimes be a lengthy process and take a month or two for approval, but often patients can get the medications for free:
- Astellas Pharma US, Inc.: https://www.astellas.com/us/patients-and-caregivers/resources-and-contacts
- Novartis: https://www.novartis.us/our-products/patient-assistance
- Pfizer: https://www.pfizerrxpathways.com/
- UNOS link to pharmaceutical company patient assistance phone numbers for frequently prescribed transplant medications: https://transplantliving.org/financing-a-transplant/prescription-drug-assistance/
- COBRA: Even though the premiums are extremely expensive, patients can apply for premium assistance through the American Kidney Fund (AKF). If the patient qualifies, AKF may reimburse patients for the medical premium only.
- Medicare will cover medication costs for the first 3 years. The patient may also be able to move into a Medicare supplement plan.
- Good Rx (https://www.GoodRx.com): Provides coupons to lower the cost of prescriptions.
- National Kidney Foundation prescription resources: https://www.kidney.org/patients/resources_Prescription
- Cornerstones4Care.com: https://www.cornerstones4care.com/. This is a program for patients requiring insulin after transplant.
Florida-Specific Resources:
The NKF of Florida’s Hawthorne Patient Assistance Fund will provide short-term financial assistance to qualified kidney transplant recipients to meet the cost of their kidney transplant related medications (immunosuppressant and prophylaxis drugs), while they seek out other longer-term solutions.
Approved patient applicants are eligible to receive assistance of up to $1,000 per month, with a lifetime maximum of $3,000, paid directly to their pharmacy of choice.
Partnering Along the Road to Transplant (English/Spanish): Use this handout to educate on ways to improve communication between patients and their providers and ease the transplant process for patients.
Ascent to Transplant videos for patients and healthcare providers:
Understanding the Kidney Allocation System: Wednesday February 19, 2020
Arizona Mayo Clinic Transplant physicians, Dr. Khamash and Dr. Jadlowiec, share a wealth of information on the essentials to understanding the Kidney Allocation System. This presentation may be viewed at the link below:
- Play recording (56 mins.)
Considering a Transplant? Let's Get Started! (PDF)
This tri-fold brochure can easily fit into a pocket and can be used to track progress and keep details organized as a patient prepares for transplant evaluation.
- Network 7 2019/2020 Transplant Referral Guide
The Transplant Referral Guide is a tool to help guide dialysis patients, their family members and care partners to the transplant centers that could most likely meet their needs. It provides location and contact information, as well as easy-to-compare eligibility criteria for the 10 transplant centers in the Network 7 service area.
- Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) Monitoring Form
Use the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) Monitoring Form for tracking education, referrals, work-ups, and waitlist status for transplant and for discussion of progress toward goals during QAPI meetings.
- PDSA Cycle Intervention
Use this Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) tool to guide you in your transplant QIA rapid-cycle improvement process.
- Transplant Refusal Follow-up: Why Not Consider a Transplant
Use this one-page document to educate patients and understand the reason patients are refusing to be referred for transplant.
- Transplant Waitlist Quality Improvement Toolkit — Coming soon!
Soon you will have access to the Transplant Waitlist QIA Toolkit. The toolkit is a dynamic document that is updated with tools and best practices as they are developed or evolve. Use this valuable resource to help you implement your QIA and as appropriate when rapid cycle improvement opportunities
- 5 Step Transplant Tracker
Use the 5 Steps to Transplant Tracker (XLSX) for tracking patients through the 5 step waitlist process, documenting contacts with transplant centers, monitoring active/inactive status and identifying barriers.
- Transplant Waitlist Quality Improvement Proven Best Practices — Coming soon!
As facilities experience successes toward achieving the Transplant Waitlist QIA goals, their best practices will be made available to you in this dynamic document. Contact the Network with your proven best practices, so that they can be shared with others.
- Transplant Waitlist QIA–Other Documents — Coming soon!
Find PowerPoint slides and other documents that may assist you in achieving your Transplant Waitlist QIA goals.
- Tips for Engaging Patients and Hosting a Successful Transplant Lobby Day
This one-pager provides simple, easy-to-follow steps for hosting a successful Transplant Lobby Day.
