OPTN data collection changes coming Sept. 14

Audience:

• UNet^SM (DonorNet^®, Waitlist^SM, TIEDI^®, KPD^SM and TransNet^SM) users who enter, update and validate data on OPTN forms

Implementation date

Sept. 14, 2023

At-a-glance

On Sept. 14, multiple updates will be made to UNet to implement approved OPTN Policy changes that affect OPTN data collection. These include:

Modifications to the Deceased Donor Registration (DDR) form

• Changes impact:
  • DonorNet donor record
  • Death Notification Registration (DNR)
  • TIEDI Deceased Donor Registration (DDR)

Report primary graft dysfunction in heart transplant recipients

• Changes impact:
  • Thoracic Transplant Recipient Registration (TRR)

Update data collection to align with U.S. Public Health Service Guideline, 2020

• Changes impact:
  • DonorNet donor record
  • DDR forms

Standardize kidney biopsy reporting and data collection

• Changes impact:
  • DonorNet donor record
  • DDR forms

Data collection to evaluate organ logistics and allocation

• Changes impact:
  • Waitlist Candidate removal
  • TRR forms
  • DDR forms
  • Organ check-out times in TransNet

Race and ethnicity data collection changes

The OPTN is planning changes to how it collects data on race and ethnicity in the UNet, to create greater consistency with reporting categories used in many federal data systems.

• Changes impact:
  • DonorNet donor record, Waitlist candidate registrations, KPD candidates and donors, and certain TIEDI forms that collect race and ethnicity information.

What you need to do

Please review the approved policy notices linked above.

No immediate action is required. Specific system notices for each of the above projects will be sent as implementation approaches with more detailed information and supplemental resources. This release does not impact current form submission processes or expected validation timelines

Additional details

Every time data collection changes, the OPTN must submit all data collection forms to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval prior to implementation. These changes involve the addition of new fields, deletion of fields, and substantive changes to form questions supporting policies approved by the OPTN Board of Directors.

Questions

If you have questions relating to implementation, contact UNOS Customer Service at [email protected], or call 800-978-4334 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.

For policy-related questions, contact [email protected]

The Organ Center is available 24 hours a day at 800-292-9537

View the UNet System Status page