Transplant Surgeons Urge Early Referral As Kidney Candidates Can Join UNOS Before Dialysis

Los Palmus Surgeon Urges Early Evaluation For kidney Transplantation; Patients Can Self-Refer Online

USA: Dr. Jennifer George, a transplant surgeon at Los Palmus Medical Center, outlined why kidney transplantation is a central treatment option for people with end-stage renal disease and those with late-stage chronic kidney disease. She emphasized that patients do not need to be on dialysis to be considered for a kidney transplant, and that pursuing transplantation earlier in the disease course is often the best timing for long-term benefit.

At Los Palmus, the path to a kidney transplant begins with a referral from a treating physician or with a patient-initiated request through the hospital’s transplant center website. The program initiates a structured evaluation that includes blood work, cardiac testing and imaging studies, then coordinates reviews by multiple specialists to assess candidacy for the operation and post-transplant care.

Once a patient clears those medical and multidisciplinary screens, the transplant team can place them on the national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) list for kidney transplantation. Dr. George described this as a stepwise process built around patient safety and thorough evaluation, designed to match candidates appropriately and prepare them for surgery and lifelong follow-up if accepted.

Patients interested in learning more or starting the referral process are encouraged to contact the Los Palmus Medical Center transplant program through the hospital’s online portal or by asking their primary physician for a referral. The center’s public outreach segment framed transplantation as an accessible option for those with advancing kidney disease, highlighting the importance of timely evaluation and coordinated care for prospective transplant recipients.

Video originally published on 2026-03-10 17:51:39