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Black kidney candidates are receiving waiting time modifications, helping them get the organs they need
Latest kidney monitoring report shows two new kidney polices are working as intended
Honoring the gift of life: Ceremony marks the National Donor Memorial 20th anniversary
The National Donor Memorial inspires us “to reflect on what it means to be an organ, eye or tissue donor.”
UNOS Travel App wins RVA Tech Award for Innovation
Award recognizes projects that “have a long-term impact,” will serve as “an inspiration for future innovation”
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Kidney – Pancreas
Second round of simulated modeling results for continuous distribution of kidney and pancreas now available
Modeling results estimate the benefit of new proposals and inform committees of any needed improvements.
Two-year monitoring report available for pancreas allocation policies
Report captures two-year data post implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
Now in effect: Simultaneous heart-kidney and lung-kidney allocation changes
New policies require candidates to meet medical eligibility criteria to be eligible for a required kidney share on the heart or lung match.
Liver – Intestine
Updated median MELD at transplant scores in effect Sept. 27
MMaT values are updated twice each year.
Updates to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates in effect
Updated criteria will better identify and prioritize urgent candidates.
UNet is online: VCA and data collection projects released
Allocation of 10 Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) organs has been added to UNet, along with extensive changes to existing data collection forms across organs.
Heart – Lung
Letter to lung transplant community: Working together to increase efficiency
A message from Marie Budev, DO, MPH, FCCP, OPTN Lung Committee Chair Members of the lung transplant community, As we approach the end of 2023, I want to recognize the great work you all have done to save lives this year and to talk about a new tool coming in 2024....
Implementation notice: Data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates in effect
Phase one of two data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates has been implemented.
FAQs: Submitting supplemental oxygen values for lung candidates
Submitting supplemental oxygen values for lung candidates frequently asked questions and answers.
VCA
Two guidance documents updated
Resources address VCA donation, geographically endemic infections
Three new VCA programs replace GU program
Three new programs have replaced the Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) – genitourinary organ (GU) program
Three new VCA programs to replace GU program
Three new programs will replace the Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) – genitourinary organ (GU) program
Improving the system together
Predicting the future to help patients today
New tool offers never-before-seen insights on the impact that accepting or declining an organ offer could have on a patient.
OPO partners with Black history museum to increase organ donor registrations
Kia Potts tells us how LifeNet Health and a Richmond-area cultural institution worked together to change lingering misconceptions about organ donation.
What are the barriers to wider use of organ perfusion?
Q&A: David Klassen, M.D., on the promise, and challenges to wider use, of normothermic perfusion.
UNet
Mandatory training and UNet user audit opens Feb. 28, 2024
Beginning Feb. 28, 2024, site security administrators will have four weeks to complete the required audit of their UNet users. Prior to completing the audit, site security administrators must complete the updated training course UNet Security Administration (SYS 150)...
Now available: Predictive analytics in desktop DonorNet
These predictions are intended to supplement, not replace, existing data and clinical judgment.
Submit historical VCA collection forms by Feb. 9
New VCA forms available including: TRR and TRF forms that have been updated for the 10 VCA organs. Programs are expected to respond with the new forms completed forms to [email protected] within 90 days of either the date the recipient was removed from the waiting list (TRR), or the date of the six-month or annual anniversary of transplant (TRF) .
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
Implementation notice: Required reporting of certain patient safety events now in effect
A new policy is now in effect that requires members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
Implementation notice: Data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates in effect
Phase one of two data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates has been implemented.
Pre-implementation notice: Required reporting of patient safety events coming
Effective Jan., 10, 2024, OPTN Policy 18.5, will be updated to require members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
Policy monitoring
Early lung monitoring report shows increase in transplants following implementation of lung continuous distribution
Report captures three-months of data post implementation of lung continuous distribution.
Two-year monitoring report available for pancreas allocation policies
Report captures two-year data post implementation of 250 nautical mile circles.
Four-year monitoring report for adult heart allocation now available
Latest report shows key measures of adult heart allocation following policy changes implemented in October 2018.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
Black kidney candidates are receiving waiting time modifications, helping them get the organs they need
Latest kidney monitoring report shows two new kidney polices are working as intended
Collaboration
Public comment now open through March 15
The winter 2023 public comment cycle opened Jan. 19 and closes March 15.
National collaborative focusing on organ offer acceptance to launch at the end of January 2023
More than 80 transplant programs are participating in the project; a virtual option for the in-person kickoff event is available to the entire community.
UNOS using a collaborative improvement model to increase DCD lung transplantation
29 lung transplant programs are participating in the project.
Education
Latest in reporting positive post procurement donor results
A new permission in Security Administration was added today for transplant programs. Starting Feb. 28, Transplant Programs will be able to view and acknowledge receipt of these notifications from a new dashboard in DonorNet. The dashboard will be visible only to hospital users who have this new permission to acknowledge these notifications.
National webinar on Nov.15 for lung transplant professionals on upcoming data collection changes and other insights in lung allocation
A recording will be made available afterward.
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Perspectives
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.
Transplant equity work never ends: Jerry McCauley, M.D.
UNOS president-elect shares his perspective on transplant equity and the work still to be done.
Leadership news
UNOS plan reimagines governance of U.S. transplant system to best serve patients
Roadmap outlines how to create an independent OPTN Board in a move endorsed by Congress
In Memoriam – Isabel Stenzel Byrnes
UNOS celebrates the life of Isabel Stenzel Byrnes, a lung recipient who, with her twin sister Anabel, became a voice for patients and a passionate advocate for donation and transplant. Isabel and Anabel were both born with cystic fibrosis in 1972. Not expected to live...
U.S. House of Representatives calls on FAA to improve air transport of donor organs
Vote calls for a work group to consider whether organs transported via commercial flight could once again travel safely in a plane’s cabin
“The dozens of topics presented at TMF shared one thing—our community’s dedication to doing everything we can to constantly improve the system and better serve the patients who rely on us.”
Patient safety
Pre-implementation notice: Required reporting of patient safety events coming
Effective Jan., 10, 2024, OPTN Policy 18.5, will be updated to require members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
Public Comment open from July 27 through Sept. 19, 2023
The OPTN is offering 14 items for review.
Four-year monitoring report for adult heart allocation now available
Latest report shows key measures of adult heart allocation following policy changes implemented in October 2018.
Transplant hospital
Implementation notice: Required reporting of certain patient safety events now in effect
A new policy is now in effect that requires members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
Implementation notice: Data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates in effect
Phase one of two data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates has been implemented.
FAQs: Submitting supplemental oxygen values for lung candidates
Submitting supplemental oxygen values for lung candidates frequently asked questions and answers.
OPO
OPTN Board approves improvements to reporting of potential patient safety events
Process for reporting enhanced, clarified.
Implementation notice: Required reporting of certain patient safety events now in effect
A new policy is now in effect that requires members to report certain patient safety events within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event.
Site surveys to be conducted virtually beginning January 2024
Beginning January 2024, all aspects of our routine site surveys will be conducted virtually.
Histocompatibility
Now in effect: Changes to security personnel requirements and reporting
These changes were approved by the OPTN Board of Directors at their June 26, 2023 meeting.
Public Comment open from July 27 through Sept. 19, 2023
The OPTN is offering 14 items for review.
Changes to security personnel requirements and reporting
Changes to security personnel requirements and reporting to be implemented following policy changes approved by the OPTN Board of Directors.
What happened in public comment? See what the community had to say. View comments
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes