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History and Statistics of the Iowa City VA Health Care System Transplant Program
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History
The kidney transplant program at the VA Iowa City Health Care System (VAICHCS) and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) began in November, 1969, when the first kidney transplant was performed at the VAICHCS. Since the beginning of the program, this VAICHCS/University of Iowa transplant team has performed over 2,500 renal transplants in both hospitals as a joint effort of the VAICHCS, UIHC, and the University of Iowa's College of Medicine. Currently, this joint transplant program performs 100 to 120 kidney transplants each year.
Statistics
The one-year patient survival rate for kidney transplants in this combined VAICHCS/University of Iowa program is 99%. The one-year kidney survival rate is 96%. These statistics rank our combined VAICHCS/University of Iowa program as one of the top transplant programs in the country.
The waiting time in Iowa for a deceased donor kidney can be as long as three years or more. In an effort to decrease this waiting time, we encourage living donation whenever there is a suitable donor.
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