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Equity in Kidney Transplant (EqKT) Program

Through the EqKT Kidney Transplant Evaluation Program, Mass General Brigham is committed to providing equitable care in the communities it serves.
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877-644-2860

Call the Equity in Kidney Transplant Program at 877-644-2860

8776442860
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About this program

Black, Indigenous, and LatinX communities are disproportionately impacted by end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), a permanent form of kidney damage that occurs as a result of chronic kidney disease. Kidney transplantation is considered the best therapy for ESKD, providing increased survival rates and improved quality of life, but it is often less accessible to patients of color.

Improving access to kidney transplantation and addressing disparities

In partnership with the Mass General Brigham Center for Community Health Improvement, Mass General Brigham Transplant Surgery is committed to reducing disparities in kidney transplantation by improving access to care for all patients, regardless of social, economic or other factors that might otherwise limit access to the best possible care.

Through our Equity in Kidney Transplantation (EqKT) Program, a core team—consisting of a transplant nephrologist, nurse coordinator, social worker, and health and wellness navigator—conducts pre-kidney transplant evaluations directly within the community. By bringing this essential transplant service directly to underserved communities, we aim to increase representation on the transplant waitlist and among those receiving life-saving transplants at Mass General Brigham every year.

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Our pillars

Care in the community
  • Bringing the kidney transplant evaluation program to the Black, Indigenous, and LatinX communities
  • Providing culturally competent training and education to the clinical care teams, patients, and loved ones in minority communities about transplantation and living donation
Care and resource navigation
  • Supporting patients through a complex and long process with care and resource coordination
  • Evidence-based behavioral coaching and rapport-building to increase compliance and stamina for a (sometimes) long transplant journey
Quality improvement
  • Collecting and analyzing data around social determinants of health, health-related social needs, and how they may impact patient outcomes throughout all stages of the transplant process—from referral to after transplantation
  • Training internal teams to ensure quality, safe, and culturally competent care

Equitable kidney transplant evaluation in the community

The EqKT offers pre-kidney transplant evaluations at the Brockton Regional Kidney Center in Brockton, MA, and MGH Chelsea Community Health Center in Chelsea, MA. Patients from these and nearby communities can be evaluated for a kidney transplant by our English- and Spanish-speaking Mass General Brigham transplant care teams, who work closely with local providers. Our team also includes nationally trained and certified medical interpreters to support individuals and families who are Limited English Proficient, as needed.

To accommodate patient needs and preferences, the EqKT clinical team can conduct virtual evaluations or travel to other outreach locations as needed and depending on availability. While some parts of the evaluation may require visits to our Boston clinics, our goal is to make the process as accessible and convenient as possible.

How to make an appointment for pre-kidney transplantation evaluation

Patients can request an appointment themselves or be referred by their doctor. Please call our team at 877-644-2860.

The minimum requirement to request an appointment or submit a referral for evaluation is for patients with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of </= 25. Mass General Brigham does not use race as a criteria when calculating a patient’s eGFR. Patients are encouraged to speak with their primary care providers to ensure race was not factored into their eGFR, if calculated outside of Mass General Brigham.

Frequently asked questions

Why does this evaluation program focus on historically underserved communities?

The EqKT Initiative was originally created to address disparities in access to kidney transplantation among racial and ethnic minorities. Black, LatinX, and Indigenous communities experience much higher rates of end-stage kidney disease compared to white populations, yet they often encounter barriers to receiving care.

Over time, our program has evolved to optimize clinical care for all individuals, regardless of racial, ethnic, or social factors that may limit access to transplantation. These health disparities often extend beyond medical issues to include social determinants of health, such as income, education, housing, and systemic inequities.

We aim to reduce these disparities by bringing our evaluation programs into local communities and more.

What languages are offered through the EqKT Evaluation Program?
The EqKT clinical team includes English- and Spanish-speaking providers. At Mass General Brigham, we offer additional resources, including nationally trained and certified medical interpreters to support individuals and families who are Limited English Proficient or Deaf and Hard of Hearing. We provide access to over 200 languages through Medical Interpreter Services.
Where are the EqKT Evaluation Program locations?

We currently offer EqKT pre-kidney transplant evaluations at:

MGH Chelsea Community Health Center in Chelsea, MA
100 Everett Avenue
Suite 16C
Chelsea, MA 02150

MGH at Brockton Regional Kidney Center
76 Campanelli Industrial Drive
Brockton, MA 02301

Additionally, our team may be deployed to other community locations as part of the Transplant Evaluation Program, including Danvers, MA; Northampton, MA; Nashua, NH; and Portsmouth, NH.

What is the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)?
The eGFR is a number calculated based on the blood test for creatinine. It tells how well the kidneys are working and, in addition to creatinine levels, it takes into account the patient’s age, sex, and sometimes race. Factoring in race results in a higher eGFR for Black patients, putting them at a disadvantage because a higher GFR means better kidney function. This flawed equation can have negative implications in a patient’s access to therapy.
How does Mass General Brigham's expedited listing process and transplant readiness work?
The kidney transplant program at Mass General Brigham has an expedited listing process, allowing patients to be listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) deceased donor waitlist after initial evaluation with minimal testing. As a listed patient accrues more waiting time and nears the top of the waitlist, they enter the Readiness Phase (12- to 18-months before an organ offer is expected). Through care coordination and communication, we ensure the patient is ready to receive a kidney offer. The patient must be in good health, maintain healthy habits and weight, and be up to date on required vaccinations, health screenings and tests. It is during the Readiness Phase that all required lab and imaging tests are completed. This expedited process means the patient can start accruing time on the UNOS waitlist sooner, while the Readiness Phase cuts down on the patient’s need to repeat tests and screenings that may expire while waiting.
What are my options for receiving a kidney?

The best option is to receive a kidney from a living donor, as this does not require time on the waiting list and reduces the need for dialysis (among other benefits). Patients often identify a living donor in their own life who is willing to donate their kidney directly to them. We also work closely with paired-exchange program(s) to assist patient-living donor pairs that are incompatible. In this program, the living donor will donate their kidney to an unknown, compatible recipient. Then, the patient will receive a kidney from an unknown, compatible donor as part of a swap.

Patients without a living donor wait on the UNOS list for a deceased donor kidney.

The Mass General Brigham transplant team will assist patients with navigating the living and deceased donor processes through Donor Champion education and other resources

Can I receive surgery or post-transplant care at the community-based evaluation programs?

Our community evaluation locations are solely dedicated to pre-kidney transplant evaluation. You can expect to receive evaluation and any necessary initial testing at the evaluation program. Once in the readiness phase, you will be informed of next steps and necessary testing to prepare for transplant. The surgery will take place at Massachusetts General Hospital at 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114. Following the surgery, you can receive post-transplant care at either:

165 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114

102-104 Endicott Street, Danvers, MA 01923

Can I seek care through this program if I am not a resident of Chelsea, MA?
Yes, the Mass General Brigham EqKT Initiative is designed to serve all historically disadvantaged patients regardless of residence in or proximity to Chelsea, MA, or Boston, MA. Depending on access, patient needs and preferences, our equitable English- and Spanish-speaking team can be deployed to conduct portions of the pre-kidney transplant evaluation in a nearby community location that is more convenient for you (Danvers, MA, Northampton, MA, and Portsmouth, NH). However, some portions of the evaluation may only be available at our full-service locations in Chelsea and Boston, MA. Please call our team at 877-644-2860 for more information about our services.