Referrals

Refer a Transplant Patient to Trinity Health

Thank you for your interest in Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center.

To refer a patient for kidney transplantation, you may fax a transplant patient referral form to 616-685-8979. If you have any questions, please reach out to our referral coordinator at 616-685-6506.

Is My Patient a Transplant Candidate?

Patients must either be on dialysis or have a GFR of 25 or less to be referred for a kidney transplant. In general, patients also must be:

Age 18 or older and younger than 80 (subject to individual review)
BMI less than 40
No active tobacco/nicotine use (including, but not limited to: smoking, electronic cigarettes, vape, smokeless tobacco, nicotine patches or gum)
Adherent to their medical treatment plan, including dialysis treatment

Referral Process

After a referral is sent, we ask that you provide this document to your patient to inform them of the next steps in the process (PDF, 98KB). Remind your patients that they will be receiving a phone call from our office once their referral is processed. For questions about a referral, feel free to call 616-685-6506.

Unable to Contact

If attempts to reach the patient are unsuccessful, the patient's file may be closed. A letter indicating such will be sent to the patient and referral source.

Health Maintenance Testing

Our goal is to help the patients move through the evaluation process as quickly as possible. We highly encourage them to call their primary care doctor and verify whether the testing listed below is up to date. These tests do NOT have to be completed before coming in for an Education and Evaluation Appointment, but they do need to be completed or updated before a patient can be placed on the transplant waiting list.

All testing results can be faxed to 616-685-8979.

Men

Colonoscopy (if 45 years old and older): repeated as directed by your doctor
PSA blood test (if 45 years old and older): repeat annually
TB skin test: for patients on dialysis, repeated annually
Renal ultrasound within the last 3 years
All vaccinations are highly recommended, including annual influenza, pneumonia, and COVID-19.

Women

Colonoscopy (if over 45 years old): repeated as directed by your doctor
Renal ultrasound within the last 3 years
TB skin test: for patients on dialysis, repeated annually
Mammogram (if over 40 years old) and manual breast exam: repeat annually
Pelvic exam: repeated every 2 years
PAP smear (if cervix still present): repeat every 3 years, or as insurance allows
All vaccinations are highly recommended, including annual influenza, pneumonia, and COVID-19.