The Scope of Telemedicine in Kidney Transplantation: Access and Outreach Services

Abstract

Access to transplant centers is a key barrier for kidney transplant evaluation and follow-up care for both the recipient and donor. Potential kidney transplant recipients and living kidney donors may face geographic, financial, and logistical challenges in engaging with a transplant center and maintaining post-transplant continuity of care. Telemedicine via synchronous video visits has the potential to overcome the access barrier to transplant centers. Transplant centers can start the evaluation process for potential recipients and donors via telemedicine, especially for those who have challenges to come for an in-person visit or when there are restrictions on clinic capacities, such as during a pandemic. Similarly, transplant centers can use telemedicine to sustain post-transplant follow-up care while avoiding the burden of travel and its associated costs. However, expansion to telemedicine-based kidney transplant services is substantially dependent on telemedicine infrastructure, insurer policy, and state regulations. In this review, we discuss the practice of telemedicine in kidney transplantation and its implications for expanding access to kidney transplant services and outreach from pretransplant evaluation to post-transplant follow-up care for the recipient and donor.

Keywords: Access to health services; Evaluation and follow-up care; Kidney transplantation; Living donors; Telehealth.

Figure.

Telemedicine-based kidney transplant services*ᶧ A. Pre-transplant evaluation of potential kidney transplant recipients via telemedicine B. Pre-transplant evaluation of potential living kidney donors via telemedicine C. Post-transplant follow-up care for recipients and donors via telemedicine Abbreviations: KT, Kidney Transplantation; ILDA, Independent Live donor advocate. *We define telemedicine as a healthcare delivery platform using a live-video visit that permits real-time communications between the patient and provider at a distant site. ᶧInfographic by Anju Yadav, MD FASN.

Figure.

Telemedicine-based kidney transplant services*ᶧ A. Pre-transplant evaluation of potential kidney transplant recipients via telemedicine B. Pre-transplant evaluation of potential living kidney donors via telemedicine C. Post-transplant follow-up care for recipients and donors via telemedicine Abbreviations: KT, Kidney Transplantation; ILDA, Independent Live donor advocate. *We define telemedicine as a healthcare delivery platform using a live-video visit that permits real-time communications between the patient and provider at a distant site. ᶧInfographic by Anju Yadav, MD FASN.

Figure.

Telemedicine-based kidney transplant services*ᶧ A. Pre-transplant evaluation of potential kidney transplant recipients via telemedicine B. Pre-transplant evaluation of potential living kidney donors via telemedicine C. Post-transplant follow-up care for recipients and donors via telemedicine Abbreviations: KT, Kidney Transplantation; ILDA, Independent Live donor advocate. *We define telemedicine as a healthcare delivery platform using a live-video visit that permits real-time communications between the patient and provider at a distant site. ᶧInfographic by Anju Yadav, MD FASN.