KTx-CONNECT | Kidney transplant adherence, made measurable

GraftWise Health is building KTx-CONNECT, a web-based platform for early nonadherence capture and care-team action.

Designed for kidney transplant recipients and care teams, combining smart reminders, behavioral nudges, patient-reported insights, and actionable dashboards.

Web-first Care-team dashboards Behavioral science Implementation support

Solution

KTx-CONNECT is an in-development platform designed to support recipients, families, and transplant teams without adding clinic burden.

Rx

Smart reminders

Designed for web-based dosing schedules, refill prompts, and escalation logic when doses are missed.

PRO

Patient-reported data

Lightweight check-ins for barriers, side effects, and confidence, designed for teen and adult users.

MD

Clinician dashboards

Designed to surface risk signals early, prioritize outreach, and document interventions in a consistent workflow.

How it works

A clinic-embedded workflow that helps teams identify barriers early, personalize support, and track progress over time.

1) Capture barriers early

Recipients and caregivers complete brief, nonjudgmental barrier check-ins. The Barriers Assessment Tool (BAT) was designed for routine clinic use and quality improvement implementation.

  • Patient-centered barrier inventory (BAT)
  • Designed for reliable clinic workflow (PDSA/QI implementation)
  • Actionable targets for support and coaching

2) Stratify risk and prioritize outreach

Identified adherence barriers are associated with higher subsequent rejection risk, supporting early identification and intervention.

  • Turn barrier check-ins into a clear, prioritized outreach plan for the care team
  • Team dashboard to track barriers, signals, and follow-up
  • Configurable thresholds to match your program

3) Deliver targeted, multicomponent support

KTx-CONNECT operationalizes evidence-based adherence promotion (education, planning, problem-solving, and habit supports) and tracks response over time.

  • Tailored coaching-style nudges and micro-interventions
  • Clinic pathways and documentation fields
  • Progress summaries for recipients, families, and the team

4) Measure outcomes and program value

Published implementation work shows that structured adherence promotion can reduce rejection and can be cost-saving.

  • Use structured adherence promotion workflows with measurable follow-through
  • Track outcomes and value with exportable, stakeholder-ready reporting
  • Exportable reports for QI, research, and stakeholder reporting

Proof, Not Promises

The research and measurement model guiding our approach.

BAT

Measure barriers in a clinic-ready way

A brief, nonjudgmental barriers inventory supports routine use in transplant workflows and helps convert “nonadherence” into actionable targets.

Selected work: Varnell et al., Pediatric Transplantation (2017); Varnell et al., Children (2023)

RISK

Barriers predict risk

In pediatric and young adult kidney transplant recipients, identified adherence barriers were associated with higher subsequent rejection risk, supporting early detection and early intervention.

Selected work: Varnell et al., Pediatric Nephrology (2021)

MAPS

Interventions can change outcomes and value

Structured adherence promotion has been associated with fewer late rejection events and modeled as cost-saving, reinforcing the case for scalable, team-based adherence programs.

Selected work: Hooper et al., AJKD (2021); Varnell et al., AJKD (2022)

What we operationalize

  • Early capture: brief barrier check-ins designed for routine clinic use
  • Tracking: longitudinal barrier trends, engagement, and adherence signals
  • Action: clinic pathways tied to the barriers that matter for each patient
  • Learning loop: exportable metrics for QI and research

Selected publications

  • Varnell et al. Barriers to adherence in pediatric kidney transplantation. Pediatric Transplantation (2017).
  • Varnell et al. Adherence barriers and subsequent acute rejection risk. Pediatric Nephrology (2021).
  • Hooper, Varnell et al. Medication Adherence Promotion System (MAPS) in kidney transplantation. AJKD (2021).
  • Varnell et al. Cost-effectiveness of MAPS-based adherence promotion. AJKD (2022).
  • Varnell et al. Barriers Assessment Tool (BAT): clinical utility and follow-up outcomes. Children (2023).
  • Dawson, Amatya, Norwood (eds.). Psychosocial considerations in pediatric kidney conditions. (2024).

Full citations and PDFs available upon request.

Security and privacy

We’re building toward formal security attestations. Our approach is designed to be healthcare-appropriate, with role-based access, encryption in transit, and detailed audit logs. Final controls will align with the chosen deployment environment and partner requirements.

Data protections

  • Encryption in transit; encryption at rest aligned to the deployment environment
  • Role-based access controls for care teams
  • Audit logs for key user actions
  • Configurable retention policies

Implementation

  • Pilot planning and success metrics definition
  • Clinic onboarding and training materials
  • Content customization for local workflows
  • Ongoing support and iteration

Contact

Let’s talk about your adherence workflow and how KTx-CONNECT can fit.

What you’ll get

  • Early capture of adherence risk with clear, actionable signals
  • Barrier-driven insights to understand what’s getting in the way
  • Workflow-ready outreach tools for care teams (triage, tasks, documentation)
  • Program-level reporting to track trends and measure impact over time

Contact

Email: hello@graftwisehealth.com