Is the National Kidney Registry Legitimate?
If you are facing kidney failure or considering becoming a living kidney donor, you may have heard about the National Kidney Registry (NKR) and wondered if it is a legitimate organization.
The answer is that yes, the NKR is legit. Here’s what you need to know about the NKR, including what it is, who runs it, what it does, and why you can trust it.
What is the National Kidney Registry?
The NKR is the world’s largest paired exchange organization. It was founded in 2007 and has facilitated more living donor kidney transplants than any other organization in the world.
What is the Purpose of the NKR?
The NKR was founded to create a better way to facilitate transplants for the thousands of people with incompatible donors in desperate need of a kidney transplant.
Its mission is to increase the number of living donor transplants and ensure better matches between donors and recipients.
Who Runs the NKR?
The NKR was founded by Garet Hil after his daughter was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 10. After he and his wife were both deemed incompatible, a difficult and extensive donor search finally resulted in a successful living donor transplant for their daughter, Samantha.
That challenging process inspired them to create a better way to facilitate transplants for the thousands of people with incompatible donors in desperate need of a kidney transplant.
The NKR now includes an experienced leadership team, a Medical Board of top medical professionals from the transplant community, and a network of more than 100 Member Centers that have agreed to adhere to strict medical and ethical standards set by the NKR Medical Board. Samantha Hil, the girl whose kidney failure started it all, is now the Vice President of Marketing for the NKR.
How Does the NKR Work?
The NKR serves as a central repository for living donors and kidney patients who need transplants. Through programs such as paired exchange and the Voucher Program, the NKR uses the latest DNA matching technology to find the best possible matches between donors and recipients.
To use the NKR, living donors simply register with the NKR and undergo a medical screening to see if they are eligible. The NKR will provide instructions through every step of the process.
Patients who want to start the transplant process or switch to an NKR center can register with the NKR. There is no charge to living donors or transplant recipients for registering with the NKR and using its kidney matching service.
What Sets the NKR Apart?
- Focus on Protecting and Supporting Donors: The NKR offers the Donor Shield program, which provides living donors with protections, including reimbursement for donation-related lost wages, travel, and childcare expenses, coverage for any complications, kidney prioritization in case they ever need a kidney transplant in the future, and much more.
- High Success Rates: The NKR has facilitated more than 10,000 transplants with exceptional success rates. By optimizing donor-recipient matches, the program ensures better outcomes and longer-lasting kidney function.
- Data Transparency: The NKR publishes detailed statistics about its programs, transplants, wait times, and success rates, allowing patients and donors to make informed decisions.
If you’re considering living kidney donation or need a transplant, the NKR is a legitimate, groundbreaking organization that has reshaped how living kidney transplants are facilitated. By prioritizing donor safety, increasing transplant accessibility, and improving outcomes, the NKR has become a trusted name in the transplant community.
For more information about the NKR, visit their website or speak to your transplant coordinator about how the NKR can help you or your loved one.