How long is the wait for kidney transplant in Tennessee?

Kidney transplant wait times within Tennessee differ because transplant centers operate independently and accumulate waiting lists at different rates over time. Newer programs typically build smaller waiting lists and may move patients more quickly, while long-established centers often carry larger backlogs that result in longer median waits. As a result, patients listed at different hospitals in the same state can experience very different timelines to transplant.

For example, St. Thomas Hospital tends to show shorter kidney transplant wait times compared to many other programs in Tennessee, reflecting a smaller accumulated waiting list and higher recent transplant activity. In contrast, Erlanger Med Ctr historically carries a larger waiting list, which is associated with longer median wait times despite serving patients from the same donor region.