ESRD BURDEN VS . WAITLIST PATIENTS PER MILLION ADULT POPULATION ( 01 / 01 / 2014 – 12 / 31 / 2014 )
Waitlist patients per million adult state population
750 700 650 600 550 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0
0
MEDIAN = 487
316 , FL
386 , TN
724 , AL
509 , GA 465 , LA
MEDIAN = 2,200 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200 2400 2600 2800 Period prevalance of eligible ESRD patients per million state population
509 , MS
UAB serves the citizens of Alabama with ESRD at a higher rate than transplant programs in surrounding states .
UAB FIRST TRANSPLANT CENTER NAMED TO LIVING DONOR CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE
In October 2020 , UAB Medicine became the first transplant center and one of only a small number of employers to be recognized as a member of the American Society of Transplantation ’ s new Living Donor Circle of Excellence . The program was created to help reduce the financial impact of living organ donation by recognizing companies that provide what otherwise would be lost wages to these selfless employees .
A leader in increasing access to donor organs , UAB Medicine is one of the three most active kidney transplant centers in the nation and has performed more procedures than any other U . S . program since 1987 . In 2017 , UAB began offering four weeks of paid leave for eligible employees who volunteer as living organ donors ( for kidney or partial liver donations ) and one week for bone marrow donors . The same year , the state of Alabama adopted a similar policy for permanent employees with at least one year of state service , and the city of Birmingham followed suit in 2019 for its employees .
ORGANS – KIDNEY
MEDIAN WAIT LIST YEARS BY RECIPIENT BLOOD TYPE FOR DECEASED DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS , 2014-2015 VERSUS 2018-2019
Today in the United States , more than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving kidney or liver transplant . Living donors accounted for 30 % of kidney transplants and 6 % of liver transplants performed in 2019 , and these numbers are growing . However , financial disincentives are a barrier for many potential living organ donors . Many living donors choose to use vacation time or take unpaid absences during the typical four- to six-week recovery period , but this choice isn ’ t necessary if their employer continues to pay them during this time .
“ We are extremely proud to be in this distinguished Circle of Excellence ,” says Martha Tankersley , MSN , RN , transplant administrator for the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute ( CTI ). “ This represents the alignment of the larger organization with our transplant program in recognizing and supporting organ donors who are part of the UAB Medicine family . It also set a precedent for our local and state governments to follow , which demonstrates a real commitment to these selfless donors .” uabmedicine . org / refertransplant 19