Geographic Disparities in Transplantation

The areas of the country with the highest need for liver and kidney transplants have the lowest rates. Why? Robert Cannon, MD, surgical director of the UAB Liver Transplant Program, explains that researchers have often focused on the number of patients on waitlists rather than the overall need for transplants in an area; that has resulted in more transplants in some areas that are among the best-performing already. He discusses related health-care challenges of those who live in regions with relatively low transplant rates and long-term solutions for improving transplant disparities.