KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
CENTRO HISPANO DE TRASPLANTES RENALES More than 9,000 individuals in Texas are waiting for a kidney transplant and , of those , 47 percent are Hispanic . End-stage renal disease affects Hispanics at a significantly higher rate , and those who are wait-listed for a transplant are less likely to receive a living donor kidney .
More than 9,000 individuals in Texas are waiting for a kidney transplant .
47 percent , nearly half , of those individuals who are waiting for a kidney transplant are Hispanic .
Recognizing an opportunity to better serve its Hispanic transplant candidates and the Hispanic population in its service area , Baylor Dallas , in collaboration with Northwestern Medicine in Chicago , launched the Hispanic Kidney Transplant Center in December 2016 . This first-of-its-kind center offers one-on-one and group education opportunities for the patient and his or her family members in their preferred language , with the goal of creating a comfortable and trusted environment for learning . “ By addressing both the language and cultural needs , our team at Baylor can help the patient make a more informed decision about his or her preferred course of care ,” said Richard Ruiz , MD , surgical director of pancreas transplantation and director of the Hispanic Kidney Transplant Center . “ My overall goal for the center is twofold ,” said Ruiz . “ First , to educate the Hispanic community about the process before , during and after kidney transplantation and second , to dispel any myths that are preventing the Hispanic community from living donation , with the hope of improving living donation rates in the Hispanic population .”
Five patients were seen at the first program held in December with two programs scheduled monthly in 2017 . Dr . Ruiz said that the patients that attended the program in December appreciated the personal attention and education given to them .
21