Abstract: SA-PO1093
Guiding Telemedicine Integration in Living Kidney Donor Evaluation: A Mixed-Methods Study
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - Postkidney Transplant Outcomes and Potpourri
November 08, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 2102 Transplantation: Clinical
Authors
- Al Ammary, Fawaz, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States
- Nunez, Ivette, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States
- Adeyemo, Simeon, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States
- Kumar, Vineeta, University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Mejia, Christina Irene, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Lentine, Krista L., Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Yadav, Anju, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Motter, Jennifer D., Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Sung, Hannah, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Background
Living kidney donor evaluation involves lengthy in-person visits. Telemedicine can facilitate the early stages of this process. This study aimed to synthesize recommendations to guide transplant centers in integrating telemedicine into a hybrid model that enhances access to donor evaluation.
Methods
We conducted a two-phase sequential mixed-methods study with multidisciplinary transplant providers in the U.S. from 3/2023-5/2025. In Phase 1, we held four qualitative focus groups involving 3 surgeons, 5 nephrologists, 7 nurse coordinators, and 9 social workers to explore perspectives on telemedicine in donor evaluation and identify key themes. In Phase 2, we used a modified Delphi panel method to develop consensus-based recommendations.
Results
Eight key themes emerged from the focus groups (Table 1), which lead to 21 preliminary recommendations. In Delphi round-one, 13 recommendations reached consensus on appropriateness, feasibility, and priority. In Delphi round-two, participants re-ranked the 13 recommendations by priority and rated the extent to which the absence of each would pose a barrier to implementing telemedicine. The top five recommendations were: (1) securing leadership support to strengthen telemedicine infrastructure (mean=4.3, SD 0.66); (2) addressing potential donor coercion (mean=4.2, SD 0.77); (3) offering telemedicine as an option to reduce travel, cost, and disruptions to work or caregiving (mean=3.9, SD 0.64); (4) supporting provider licensure across state lines (mean=3.85, SD 0.81); and (5) establishing a simple telemedicine workflow with real-time staff support (mean=3.75, SD 0.55).
Conclusion
These findings help guide integrating telemedicine into a hybrid model for donor evaluation. The results highlight the need for strong institutional infrastructure, provider support, donor-centered flexibility, and supportive policies for cross-state care. Targeted interventions are needed to assess the effectiveness of hybrid telemedicine/in-person models.
Funding
- NIDDK Support