Montgomery County supervisors agree to back Carilion Clinicrequest for kidney transplant program resolution

Carilion Clinic is seeking a certificate of public need from the Commonwealth of Virginia to add a kidney transplant program and asked the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors for a local resolution of support.

Dr. Bill Flattery, vice president of Carilion Clinic Western Region, told the board that "we don't have one locally, and we need one," citing state figures that there are roughly 2,300 people in Virginia on a kidney transplant waiting list and that chronic kidney disease affects "1 in 7 Americans." He said Carilion intends to operate transplants out of Roanoke Memorial while providing local pre- and post-operative care in Blacksburg.

Supporters on the board described the proposal as an access issue for residents who now must travel long distances for specialized care. Flattery asked the board to demonstrate "public support" by adopting a resolution; board members agreed to add a resolution to the next meeting agenda and instructed staff to prepare the item.

Carilion said care would be coordinated with local nephrology (Blue Ridge Nephrology) and that the transplant surgeons would visit locally so patients would only travel to Roanoke for the operation itself. Flattery said some local nephrologists already hope to enroll patients when the program is approved.

The board did not take a formal vote on the resolution the night of the presentation; supervisors agreed by consensus to place a resolution on the agenda for the Oct. 28 meeting so Carilion can include the countysupport in its state application.

The next procedural step is for county staff to draft the resolution for formal consideration at the board's next meeting.