The waiting list for a deceased-donor kidney transplant continues to grow each year, leaving many patients on dialysis. But Hartford Hospital has what’s called a living-donor champion program to help patients waiting for a kidney find one faster.
Dr. Caroline Rochon is the surgical director of the kidney transplant program at Hartford Hospital:
Q: Tell us about the Living Donor Champion Program at Hartford Hospital.
A: It is a new initiative to empower potential kidney transplant recipient who and their family to get comfortable talking about chronic kidney disease, their need for a kidney donor and the tremendous health benefits of kidney transplantation. The program consists of 3 sessions of about 2 hours each. Champions have 3 goals: become an expert, master tools and techniques to share their recipient’s story and establish a network.
Q: What is the role of an organ donor champion?
A: The role is to share the recipient’s story to raise awareness of their loved one’s need for a kidney donor. It is a chance to be able to answer questions that may arise from these discussions. It is also an opportunity to grow their recipient’s potential audience so that as many people can hear their story as possible. Ultimately, help their loved one find a donor.
Q: A program like this can help break down the barriers of identifying living potential donors…what are some of those barriers?
A: One’s own reservation to admit publicly their disease, their weakness and difficulty in finding a donor. The social myths regarding the often-exaggerated risks of living donation and the lack of knowledge regarding donor and recipient compatibility.
Q: What are the qualifications to becoming a Living Donor Champion?
A: Be free three weeks in a row for two hours at a time and care for someone affected by chronic kidney disease.
Learn more from Hartford Hospital Transplant Program RN Kari Rancourt:
Get more information the Hartford Hospital Transplant Program here. For more information on participating in the hospital’s Living Donor Champion Program, call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373).