Finding a living organ donor is a faster way to receive a liver or kidney transplant, but it isn’t always easy.
People in need of kidney transplants are by far the largest proportion of people on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list, followed by liver, then heart recipients. According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are up to 100,000 patients on the kidney donation waiting list. The average wait time is three to seven years for a kidney transplant, depending on where they live. Every day, 12 people die waiting for a kidney.
At Montefiore Einstein, we saw another opportunity to help our patients find that lifesaving match. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology, we created a first-of-its-kind digital tool to help Montefiore Einstein patients who are waiting for a lifesaving kidney or liver to find a living organ donor.
Our proprietary digital tool uses AI to guide patients through a series of simple prompts to input details about their lives, including photos and video and audio recordings. Then, an AI program blends these inputs into a unique, deeply moving “I want to live” video our patients can use to create social media posts. The tool also creates flyers, posters and postcards, all with the goal of helping them find a living organ donor.
