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COVID-19
COVID-19 update: Sept. 8, 2022
FDA authorizes booster; Updated guidance from CDC for immunocompromised and NIH on monoclonal antibodies; and COVID-19 Summary of Evidence updated
COVID-19 update: Aug. 19, 2022
NIH updates guidance for people who are immunocompromised; FDA advises repeat testing following a negative COVID-19 test
Kidney – Pancreas
Implementation notice: Minimum kidney donor criteria established for biopsies
OPOs are now required to make a reasonable effort to perform renal procurement biopsies for deceased kidney donors meeting certain criteria.
Waitlist enhancements and new kidney features coming Sept. 27
On Sept. 27, UNOS will launch the first in a series of enhancements to the visual design and workflows in Waitlist.
National Minority Donor Awareness Month: A celebration and a call to action
An opportunity to celebrate those who gave the gift of life and encourage others to register their decision
Liver – Intestine
Updated MMaT scores take effect Sept. 28; national median PELD at transplant to become 32
Effective Sept. 28, 2022, the median MELD at transplant (MMaT) values for liver transplant candidates with exception scores will be updated.
Two-year monitoring report for liver, intestine policy shows success in key aspects
Report details outcomes since policy implementation in February 2020.
Public comment open from Aug. 3 through Sept. 28, 2022
The OPTN is offering 15 items for review, including one white paper, one committee update, three concept papers, and 10 policy proposals.
Heart – Lung
Lung CAS summary
Audience Beginning Wednesday, September 28, 2022, lung transplant programs will be able to access a program-specific resource report in the Data Services Portal within the OPTN Computer System. This report provides candidate-level information indicating the portion...
Updates coming to adult heart status justification and extension forms
These updates will clarify the requirements of a candidate’s initial and extension status assignment in response to the heart transplant community’s questions.
Oct. 13 webinar to address lung continuous distribution policy implementation
The webinar will be recorded for future access.
VCA
Public comment open from Aug. 3 through Sept. 28, 2022
The OPTN is offering 15 items for review, including one white paper, one committee update, three concept papers, and 10 policy proposals.
Updates to living donor exclusion criteria now in effect
Four exclusion criteria in OPTN Policy 14.4.E have been updated to align with current research and guidelines as well as ensure consistency throughout OPTN policy language.
Improving the system together
Overcoming the financial obstacles to living donation
The National Living Donor Assistance Center is available to help living donors cover travel expenses, lost wages and other costs.
Two new transplant performance metrics now in effect, are first phase of enhanced monitoring system
New system will more holistically evaluate program performance.
Capital Pride: WRTC on being meaningful community advocates all year round
D.C. OPO’s LGBTQIA+ advocacy work increases organ donation.
UNet
Now in effect: Waitlist enhancements and new kidney features
This first release in a series of enhancements introduces a new workflow and ‘Save as you go’ process for registering kidney candidates, as well as other improvements to the screens and navigation tools in Waitlist for all organs.
Updates coming to adult heart status justification and extension forms
These updates will clarify the requirements of a candidate’s initial and extension status assignment in response to the heart transplant community’s questions.
MFA for TransNet mobile iOS users now available
Users should Wi-Fi transfer cases before updating app
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
Updated MMaT scores take effect Sept. 28; national median PELD at transplant to become 32
Effective Sept. 28, 2022, the median MELD at transplant (MMaT) values for liver transplant candidates with exception scores will be updated.
Implementation notice: Minimum kidney donor criteria established for biopsies
OPOs are now required to make a reasonable effort to perform renal procurement biopsies for deceased kidney donors meeting certain criteria.
New and changed data collection on TIEDI in effect
These policy changes impacting TIEDI forms were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in March 2022.
Policy monitoring
Two-year monitoring report for liver, intestine policy shows success in key aspects
Report details outcomes since policy implementation in February 2020.
Two-year monitoring report summarizes National Liver Review Board activity
Report covers activity since the implementation of the acuity circles liver allocation policy.
One-year monitoring report shows increases in kidney transplants for Black, Hispanic, Asian and pediatric patients following policy changes
Report captures first 12 months of data after implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
Over 5,000 organs tracked with UNOS Organ Tracking Service
26% of all OPOs are now utilizing the UNOS Organ Tracking Service to monitor organs in transit.
Collaboration
Collaborative improvement project helped OPOs increase DCD transplant in 2021
Project participants experienced more DCD recoveries and transplants than the rest of the nation.
Measuring success: data highlights from the first cohort of the DCD procurement collaborative
Participating OPOs surpassed their project goals, saw higher increases than the rest of the nation.
30 OPOs participating in national project to increase procurement of DCD donors
Number of DCD donor recoveries in 2021 exceeded previous year’s record by more than 29 percent.
UNOS launching new member focused improvement initiative in 2022
Customized individual improvement projects will help OPTN members meet specific goals.
Education
Oct. 13 webinar to address lung continuous distribution policy implementation
The webinar will be recorded for future access.
Playlists added to UNOS Connect
This new enhancement makes keeping up to date on essential education easier than ever.
June 14 webinar addresses median MELD at transplant based on donor hospital
Upcoming policy change will align median MELD at transplant (MMaT) scores around the donor hospital and update sorting within liver allocation.
TMF 2022 presenter Olivia Kates, M.D., on the theory and practice of vaccine mandates
Transplant infectious disease doctor examines the factual and ethical issues involved in vaccine mandates.
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Perspectives
From UNOS leaders
Thanking our community, honoring donors
A message from our CEO about a lifesaving milestone
Equity means providing a transplant for every single patient that needs one
As the mission-driven non-profit serving as the nation’s transplant system, we work with our community partners to ensure equitable policies and outcomes.
New kidney and pancreas allocation system will increase equity
Through a nearly three-year policy development process, the organ donation and transplant community collaborated to increase equity in access to transplant for candidates nationwide.
From the community
The liver allocation policy is a success we need to share: Terry Box, M.D., liver recipient
Box’s op-ed highlights how effective policy development is resulting in sicker patients getting liver transplants faster.
Driving toward optimal equity: Vincent Casingal, M.D.
Transplant surgeon on the success of the new kidney allocation policy.
Transplant innovations for today and tomorrow: David Klassen, M.D.
UNOS chief medical officer on the innovations making a difference in transplant.
“For us and everyone else in the transplant community, the ultimate form of equity means providing a transplant for every single patient that needs one.”
Patient safety
Now in effect: New identity verification process when calling UNOS Customer Service & Organ Center
Effective Sept. 1, any caller who requests access to private information or UNet services from UNOS will use a new identity verification process that utilizes Authy.
Monkeypox and solid organ donation
The OPTN Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) is evaluating this situation as it develops.
New exception pathway available for heart device recalls
In order to address patient safety concerns, the OPTN Executive Committee approved a modification of OPTN Policy 6.4: Adult and Pediatric Status Exceptions on July 11 that is now in effect.
Transplant hospital
Two new enhancements added to DonorNet
Two new enhancements are available in DonorNet. These enhancements display as tooltips, visible when the user hovers over a button or question mark icon.
Two new enhancements coming to DonorNet
Two new enhancements are coming to DonorNet on Sept. 21. These enhancements will display as tooltips, visible when the user hovers over a button or question mark icon.
Patient Status Confirmation link available in UNet℠ beginning Oct. 3, closes Oct. 24
Transplant programs are asked to confirm or update patient status for selected patients.
OPO
Two new enhancements added to DonorNet
Two new enhancements are available in DonorNet. These enhancements display as tooltips, visible when the user hovers over a button or question mark icon.
MFA coming for TransNet mobile for Android
MFA coming for TransNet mobile for Android on Oct. 12.
Two new enhancements coming to DonorNet
Two new enhancements are coming to DonorNet on Sept. 21. These enhancements will display as tooltips, visible when the user hovers over a button or question mark icon.
Histocompatibility
Changes to HLA and unacceptable antigen options in effect
Updates to HLA typing and unacceptable antigen reporting options and equivalencies are now in effect.
Action required: KPD eligibility impacted by new HLA options
KPD programs must add DPA1 test results before Sept. 8.
Changes to HLA and unacceptable antigen options coming Aug. 30
Updates to HLA typing and unacceptable antigen reporting options and equivalencies will go into effect Aug. 30.
Summer 2022 public comment is open Aug. 3 - Sept. 28. Watch videos and add your voice
The U.S. has reached 1 million transplants
Here's how our community will reach the next million, together.
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes