Oklahoma Transplant Center in Oklahoma City: Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgery
Oklahoma Transplant Center is a surgical transplant program operated by Integris Health that performs kidney and pancreas transplants for adult patients with end-stage renal disease and diabetes. It sits within one of Oklahoma City's largest health systems and serves patients across central Oklahoma and the surrounding region, including those referred from the Oklahoma Network for Organ Sharing (ONOS).
What Oklahoma Transplant Center actually is
Oklahoma Transplant Center coordinates both living-donor and deceased-donor kidney transplants, as well as pancreas and simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplants. The program operates from the OU Medical Center campus in Oklahoma City and is part of Integris Health's transplant division. Transplant patients typically arrive through two pathways: those with identified living donors (who may work directly with the center to schedule surgery) and those on the national deceased-donor waiting list managed by UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing). The center also manages pre- and post-transplant care, including immunosuppression protocols and rejection monitoring.
Surgical services and consultation
Patients interested in transplant evaluation undergo a multidisciplinary assessment that includes nephrologists, transplant surgeons, social workers, and financial counselors. This evaluation—which typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to complete—assesses surgical fitness, medical stability, and ability to comply with lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. For living-donor transplants, the donor undergoes parallel evaluation to confirm medical compatibility and surgical safety. The center performs both open and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy depending on donor anatomy and surgeon preference.
Transplant surgery costs and financing vary significantly based on whether the donor is living or deceased, insurance status, and post-transplant care needs. Patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid have transplant surgery and the first year of immunosuppression covered; uninsured patients and those with coverage gaps should ask about the center's financial assistance programs. Integris Health charges for the transplant procedure itself, but the actual out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance deductibles and co-insurance. Lifelong immunosuppressive medications, typically costing $1,000 to $2,000 per month without insurance, represent the largest ongoing financial burden. Verify current costs and insurance coverage directly with the center's financial counselors, as pharmaceutical prices and coverage policies change regularly.
Comparison to other Oklahoma transplant options
Oklahoma Transplant Center is one of two active kidney transplant programs in the state; the other is the Kidney Transplant Program at OUHSC (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center). Both are UNOS-approved and accept patients from the national waiting list. The University program is the state's oldest transplant center and focuses heavily on research and training; Oklahoma Transplant Center is more embedded in Integris's community-based network, which may offer shorter distances for follow-up care if you live outside Oklahoma City. Patients living in southern or western Oklahoma may find Oklahoma Transplant Center more accessible; those near Norman or closer to the OU campus may prefer the university program. Both programs have acceptable UNOS outcomes, though specific recent metrics should be reviewed on SRTR (Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients) to compare one-year graft and patient survival rates.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Oklahoma Transplant Center is appropriate for patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (GFR under 15), end-stage renal disease patients on or approaching dialysis, and those with diabetes requiring pancreas transplant. Patients with well-controlled comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease) are often good candidates if they are medically stable enough for surgery. Patients with severe, untreated infections, active malignancy, or inability to take medications reliably are not suited for transplant; the center's multidisciplinary team will disqualify or defer those deemed too high-risk. Age is not an absolute barrier; elderly patients with good functional status may be considered, but transplant benefit typically applies to those expected to survive at least 5 to 7 years post-transplant.
What the first visit involves
Patients referred by their nephrologist call the Oklahoma Transplant Center to request an evaluation. The initial appointment includes a detailed history, physical exam, and lab work (blood typing, tissue typing, and viral screening). Patients bring insurance cards, prior medical records, and imaging studies. The team reviews the four barriers to transplant: medical feasibility, immunologic compatibility, financial capacity, and psychosocial readiness. Living-donor candidates begin the donor evaluation process during or after this visit; the donor is evaluated independently to ensure they are not coerced and are medically suitable. Patients are told at the first visit whether they are active on the waiting list, deferred pending additional workup, or ineligible.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Oklahoma Transplant Center operates from the OU Medical Center campus at 1200 Everett Drive, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104. Evaluation appointments are typically weekday office hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Transplant surgeries are scheduled during operating room availability, which may occur any day including weekends and nights. On-campus parking is available in multiple garage structures; initial evaluation visits rarely require more than 2 to 3 hours. Transplant surgery requires pre-operative admission and a typical 4 to 7 day inpatient stay. Verify current clinic hours by calling 405-271-5000 or consulting the Integris Health website, as surgical schedules and clinic availability change seasonally.
Oklahoma Transplant Center serves a patient population with limited transplant options in Oklahoma; its integration into Integris's larger network means that follow-up appointments and complications can be managed at Integris clinics statewide if travel to Oklahoma City is difficult for long-term care.
