Virtual Transplant Intake Services

Learning you may need a kidney or liver transplant can feel overwhelming. To make this process easier, Rush offers a virtual first step toward becoming a transplant patient.

During your virtual intake visit, you'll meet over a video call with a knowledgeable member of our team who specializes in helping transplant patients. They will guide you through the evaluation process and answer your questions. There is no charge for this intake visit. Any subsequent appointments will be in-person at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, one of the highest-ranked hospitals in the U.S.

Our experienced transplant specialists are dedicated to getting you on the wait list for a liver or kidney transplant quickly. Rush’s transplant survival outcomes are among the best in Illinois.

Rush transplant surgeon Oyedolamu Olaitan, MD, shares why he loves helping transplant patients.

What Is a Virtual Transplant Intake Visit?

Before you can be placed on the waiting list for a transplant, you need a team of specialists to evaluate if you are a candidate for surgery.

With Rush’s virtual transplant intake services, you can meet with a knowledgeable team member from home anywhere in Illinois. Our nurses and medical assistants specialize in guiding patients through the transplant process. They will collect your health history and insurance information and begin collecting your medical records. They’ll take time to understand your condition and answer any questions you have.

Once your medical records and insurance information are confirmed, we will schedule an in-person appointment with Rush’s transplant experts in Chicago to complete the evaluation process. They will help you find a time that is convenient for you, wherever you are coming from.

If our team determines you are a candidate for a transplant after the evaluation, you’ll join the wait list for a kidney or liver.

Ready to Get Started?

Schedule a Virtual Intake Visit

Or call us at (888) 352-RUSH

How Do I Get Started?

Making a virtual transplant intake appointment online is simple and powered by Rush Connect, our easy-to-use telehealth service.

Here’s how it works:

Start scheduling your appointment, choose the type of transplant you need to be evaluated for and select a time.
On the day of your virtual intake visit, you’ll check in on MyChart.
You’ll have a video visit with a nurse or medical assistant. They will ask you about your health history and insurance information and start collecting your medical records. They will also explain the transplant evaluation and waitlist process and answer any questions you have.
After your appointment, we will confirm your insurance information and collect your medical records. Once we have this information, we will contact you to schedule in-person appointments with the Rush transplant team in Chicago.
You’ll meet with your transplant team. This visit will involve a comprehensive evaluation, including lab work and imaging tests. You’ll also meet with a social worker or psychiatrist to evaluate your mental health, support system and needs. You may need more than one visit to complete the evaluation process.
After your evaluation, your transplant team will meet to decide the best course of treatment for you. Your team will let you know your treatment options and next steps.

You can also call (888) 352-7874 to begin the transplant intake process, but we encourage the virtual intake visit option because it offers a streamlined, convenient experience.

Choosing Rush for Transplant Services

Excellent outcomes: Rush has excellent kidney and liver transplant outcomes. Survival rates at Rush are among the highest in the Chicago area, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.
Whole-person care: At Rush, you’ll receive comprehensive care for your physical and mental health before, during and after a transplant. A transplant requires lifelong follow-up care, and we’ll be with you every step of the way. You’ll receive the education and lifestyle support you need to thrive after a transplant.
Ongoing emotional support: We understand receiving a kidney or liver transplant is a life-changing experience. At Rush, social workers and psychiatrists will be part of your care team and you’ll have access to support groups to help you cope with emotions throughout the transplant process.
Experience with complex cases: Rush’s transplant specialists are experienced in treating complex cases. If you have a complicated health history, or if you’ve had a transplant in the past, Rush experts can help.
Convenient locations: Our virtual intake services allow you to begin your transplant journey from home anywhere in Illinois. After a transplant, you can receive follow-up care where it is most convenient for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s simple to schedule a virtual transplant intake visit online. Start scheduling your visit. Select the type of transplant you need to be evaluated for and select an available time for your appointment.

You can also call (888) 352-7874 to begin the transplant intake process, but we encourage the virtual intake visit option because it offers a streamlined, convenient experience.

There is no charge for your first virtual transplant intake visit. Your following evaluation visits will be billed to your insurance.

If you are 18 years of age or older, live in Illinois, and have been told by your provider you may need a kidney or liver transplant, you are eligible for virtual intake services. You must be in Illinois at the time of your virtual intake visit.

Our virtual intake visits are only available in Illinois.

If you live outside Illinois and would like to be evaluated for a kidney or liver transplant at Rush, call (888) 352-7874.

Rush experts consider many factors, including your kidney or liver disease state, overall health and social support system when evaluating if you are a candidate for a transplant. Eligibility depends on the type of transplant you need:

For kidney transplants, providers will consider your current kidney function, overall health, if your heart health and possible diabetes are controlled and more. Learn more about kidney transplant evaluation at Rush.
For liver transplants, Rush providers will evaluate several components of your liver health. They’ll also consider your overall health, ability to recover from surgery and home support system. Learn more about liver transplant evaluation.

How long you will have to wait for a transplant varies widely depending on your health, age, disease and many other factors. If you have a living kidney donor, you may not have to spend much, if any time, waiting for a kidney.

The United Network for Organ Sharing manages the matching of all organ recipients and deceased donors in the country. Our transplant team is available 24 hours a day to respond to offers of organs for you.

The average wait time in the U.S. for a kidney from a deceased donor is three to five years. Priority for kidney transplant is based on how long you have waited, undergone treatment and been on dialysis, rather than how sick you are. If you have been on dialysis for many years, your wait time will likely be shorter.
Liver transplant patients get priority on the waiting list based on their MELD score, a model of how severe their liver disease is. Because this wait list is based on severity, wait time can vary. Some people may spend a few days on the waiting list, while others wait for a year.

Currently, virtual intake visits are only available for patients 18 and older.

Rush provides a pediatric kidney transplant program. If you would like an evaluation for a pediatric patient, call (888) 352-7874.

Currently, we offer virtual intake services for kidney and liver transplants. Rush also provides pancreas transplants and kidney-pancreas transplants. Call (888) 352-7874 to schedule an in-person intake appointment.

Virtual transplant intake services are for patients being evaluated to receive a transplant. If you are interested in becoming a living donor, please contact us.