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COVID-19
COVID-19 update: June 23, 2022
FDA authorizes Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children from 6 months of age
COVID-19 update: June 9, 2022
CDC guidance for determining recommended number of COVID-19 vaccine doses and NIH updates vaccine guidance for potential organ donors
Kidney – Pancreas
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
OPTN Board approves elimination of race-based calculation for transplant candidate listing
The action, to take effect July 27, will ensure that all candidates are consistently assessed in an equitable fashion.
Pre-implementation notice: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Updates to OPTN policy language will impact four living donor exclusion criteria. These policy changes take effect July 27.
Liver – Intestine
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
Pre-implementation notice: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Updates to OPTN policy language will impact four living donor exclusion criteria. These policy changes take effect July 27.
Median MELD at transplant now based around donor hospital
Educational resources will be available
Heart – Lung
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
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.
VCA
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
Pre-implementation notice: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Updates to OPTN policy language will impact four living donor exclusion criteria. These policy changes take effect July 27.
Improving the system together
Capital Pride: WRTC on being meaningful community advocates all year round
D.C. OPO’s LGBTQIA+ advocacy work increases organ donation.
Building a team, serving a community: Pride at NEDS
New England Donor Services LGBTQIA+ outreach meets the community where they are.
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
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
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
OPTN Board approves elimination of race-based calculation for transplant candidate listing
The action, to take effect July 27, will ensure that all candidates are consistently assessed in an equitable fashion.
Pre-implementation notice: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Updates to OPTN policy language will impact four living donor exclusion criteria. These policy changes take effect July 27.
Policy monitoring
One-year monitoring report available for pancreas allocation policies
Report captures first 12 months of data after implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
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.
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
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.
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
2021 Staffing Survey results now available
Transplant hospitals that have completed the 2021 UNOS Staffing Survey may now access their program’s results, along with comparison statistics for transplant program staffing benchmarks with the 2021 data.
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
A lasting legacy: Lisa Schaffner honored posthumously with newly renamed award
The late UNOS director of public communications helped establish an award recognizing advocates in 2010. Now, the same award has been renamed to honor its very first champion.
OPO
Capital Pride: WRTC on being meaningful community advocates all year round
D.C. OPO’s LGBTQIA+ advocacy work increases organ donation.
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
A lasting legacy: Lisa Schaffner honored posthumously with newly renamed award
The late UNOS director of public communications helped establish an award recognizing advocates in 2010. Now, the same award has been renamed to honor its very first champion.
Histocompatibility
OPTN Board approves improvements to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates
The actions will increase the equity of access to liver transplant, and were among a number of additional measures adopted by the board.
UNOS researchers present studies at 2022 American Transplant Congress
Meeting held in Boston June 4-8.
A message from Matt Cooper, M.D.: 2022 UNOS Member Survey
Member survey closes June 17
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