Established Philadelphia kidney transplant program
Historically low living-donor transplant volume
Other transplant centers available in the region
Blood Type O: 59 months
Blood Type B: 131 months
Blood Type A: 46 months
Living-donor kidney transplants make up only a small part of Einstein's transplant program. OPTN data show that the center has done fewer than 10 living-donor kidney transplants in many years.
One reason for low living donor transplants may be the financial situation of many people the center serves. Donating a kidney can be demanding because it requires time off work, travel, caregiving, and a long medical evaluation. These challenges are tougher for patients and families with fewer resources.
Living donation is still an option at Einstein, but patients should know the center has had few living-donor transplants in the past. If you have a possible living donor, ask how many living-donor transplants the center does now, how long donor evaluations take, if the center takes part in paired exchanges, and what support is available for donors.
Over the past decade, the kidney transplant waiting list at Albert Einstein Medical Center has declined significantly, from 1,000 patients in 2014 to 500 in 2024. However, this reduction is largely attributed to patient removals due to medical deterioration while awaiting transplantation, as the annual supply of cadaveric kidneys—averaging just 70 per year—has not kept pace with demand. In 2024, only 14% of waitlisted patients received a cadaveric transplant.
Reduce your wait time
Book a Call