Richmond, Va. – The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors has placed the histocompatibility and immunology laboratory at Methodist Hospital in Houston on probation. This designation is specific to the laboratory only and does not apply to the transplant programs associated with Methodist Hospital.
As established in the OPTN Bylaws, probation is a public designation of an OPTN/UNOS member that is executing a corrective action plan for a violation of OPTN policies or bylaws or a serious lapse in patient safety or quality of care.
A peer review process identified a number of concerns with the organization’s quality management practices, as well as its training and oversight of staff.
The organization is undergoing corrective actions, which the OPTN will review on a confidential, peer-review basis under the oversight of the OPTN/UNOS Membership and Professional Standards Committee (MPSC) and the Board of Directors.
Summary of Events
A review of processes at the laboratory, led by the MPSC, revealed concerns with its approach to quality management. The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors, meeting by conference call on March 4, 2016, approved a designation of probation for the institution.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is operated under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Transplantation, by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The OPTN brings together medical professionals, transplant recipients and donor families to develop national organ transplantation policy.
