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COVID-19
COVID-19 update: May 12, 2022
FDA limits Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and announces tentative vaccines discussion. NIH updates Evusheld second dose guidance.
COVID-19 update: April 29, 2022
COVID-19 Summary of Evidence report updated, FDA approves first COVID-19 treatment for young children and authorizes breath samples diagnostic test
Kidney – Pancreas
Annual kidney allocation calculator updates to KDPI and EPTS reference populations
Reference populations have been updated for the KDPI and EPTS calculators.
Community results of winter 2022 kidney and pancreas prioritization exercises now available
Feedback will inform development of policy for continuous distribution of kidneys and pancreata.
Updated two-year monitoring report available for dual and en bloc kidney allocation
Report covers activity since implementation of the policies.
Liver – Intestine
June 14 webinar addresses median MELD at transplant based on donor hospital
Members of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee will lead a webinar on an upcoming policy change to align median MELD at transplant (MMaT) scores around the donor hospital and update sorting within...
Median MELD at Transplant scores updated effective March 30
Scores published for each liver program; updated twice yearly.
Updated 18-month monitoring report available for National Liver Review Board
Report covers activity since the implementation of the acuity circles liver allocation policy.
Heart – Lung
Heart simulation modeling supported by gift from Grammenos A. Adamantiades Memorial Fund
“Heart simulation modeling represents a forward-thinking, data-informed project that will ultimately help the whole system do better,” says president of GAAMF
Submitting LAS exception requests for candidates diagnosed with PH
View candidates’ LAS data as of April 22, 2022.
Heart transplant sets all-time record in 2021
31,238 lifesaving heart transplants have been performed at hospitals across the country over the past decade.
VCA
National webinar addresses proposed modifications to graft failure definition for VCA
VCA committee’s proposal open for public comment through March 23.
OPTN Board approves VCA transplant programs, liver allocation refinements, and strategic plan
New VCA specialties included in member directory.
Improving the system together
Heart simulation modeling supported by gift from Grammenos A. Adamantiades Memorial Fund
“Heart simulation modeling represents a forward-thinking, data-informed project that will ultimately help the whole system do better,” says president of GAAMF
10 things UNOS is doing to get the right organ to the right patient at the right time
New technology, innovative data tools and collaborative research projects conducted by UNOS help drive continuous improvement in getting the right organs to the right patients.
How Offer Filters will help more kidney patients, faster
Offer Filters analyzes two years of a program’s accepted organ offers to help get high KDPI kidneys to patients who need them.
UNet
New and changed data collection on TIEDI: annual update to OMB approved forms
Several policy changes impacting TIEDI forms were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in March 2022.
Updates to modify data submission policy coming in August
The policy changes were enacted to improve the quality and timeliness of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data.
Time zone label updates added to DonorNet
Time zone labels have been added to the Potential Transplant Recipient (PTR) Offer Response page in DonorNet®.
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
New and changed data collection on TIEDI: annual update to OMB approved forms
Several policy changes impacting TIEDI forms were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in March 2022.
Updates to modify data submission policy coming in August
The policy changes were enacted to improve the quality and timeliness of Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data.
Candidate data reporting due to COVID-19 impact will expire April 11
Emergency policy had been approved for a 90-day period.
Policy monitoring
Updated two-year monitoring report available for dual and en bloc kidney allocation
Report covers activity since implementation of the policies.
Updated 18-month monitoring report available for National Liver Review Board
Report covers activity since the implementation of the acuity circles liver allocation policy.
Six-month monitoring report now available for expedited liver policy
Report covers policy outcomes through Sept. 25, 2021.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
OUT tool now allows OPOs to see movement of organs across the country
Enhancements to OUT (Organ Utilization Tool) give insight into organ movement, timing of responses and use of provisional yes at each program.
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
June 14 webinar addresses median MELD at transplant based on donor hospital
Members of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee will lead a webinar on an upcoming policy change to align median MELD at transplant (MMaT) scores around the donor hospital and update sorting within...
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.
What is LAS? A new animation for patients explains the lung allocation score
New animated video for patients and their caregivers explains the lung allocation score used in transplant.
What is KDPI? A new animation for patients explains the kidney donor profile index
New animated video for patients and their caregivers explains the kidney donor profile index.
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
Potential supply issues affecting organ preservation solution
Contact your individual supplier for more information.
Voluntary recall addresses Alprostadil
If your institution has stock from the affected lot, please contact your supplier.
Voluntary recall addresses Vecuronium Bromide
If your institution has stock from any of the affected lots, please contact your supplier.
Transplant hospital
OPTN death verification process improvements will yield updated numbers beginning in April 2022
Additional deaths to be included in Center STAR files and national STAR files.
Patient status confirmation link available in UNet℠ beginning April 4, 2022
Transplant programs are asked to confirm or update patient status for selected patients.
Two new data elements added to Center STAR files
Users should adjust any automated process used to import these files.
OPO
OUT tool now allows OPOs to see movement of organs across the country
Enhancements to OUT (Organ Utilization Tool) give insight into organ movement, timing of responses and use of provisional yes at each program.
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.
Histocompatibility
HLA equivalency table updates and addition of DPB1 epitopes now in effect
The changes to the equivalency tables are intended to reflect changes in HLA typing practice and improve organ allocation.
Coming June 17: HLA equivalency table update and addition of DPB1 epitopes
These changes will occur in DonorNet®, Waitlist℠, TIEDI® and KPD℠ applications.
Labs gain access to Data Services beginning Sept. 11
Beginning Sept. 11, UNet security administrators will now be able to give laboratory staff permission to access the Data Services portal in UNet.
Public comment was open Jan. 27 – March 23. See what the community had to say
2021 transplants
41,354
Total Transplants January - December 2021 as of 01/27/2021
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes