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UNOS appoints new CEO
Maureen McBride, Ph.D., chosen to lead the organ donation and transplant community through time of change and opportunity.
UNOS welcomes competitive bidding process for next OPTN contract
We are committed to working with government partners and all who care about serving donors, patients and their families.
New lung allocation policy in effect
First organ type to use continuous distribution framework.
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Kidney – Pancreas
New milestone reached in kidney donation and transplant
For the first time, more than 25,000 kidney transplants were performed in a single year
UNOS statement on kidney continuous distribution policy in development
The OPTN Kidney Transplantation Committee intends for both prior and future living donors to receive the same level of priority for a deceased donor organ in the new framework as they receive in the current allocation system.
National webinar for kidney transplant professionals provides education on OPTN policy action on eGFR waiting time modifications
All programs must comply with the action by Jan. 3, 2024.
Liver – Intestine
Updated National Liver Review Board HCC guidance in effect April 28, 2023
Clarifications made to diagnostic criteria.
Updated median MELD at transplant scores in effect March 30; MPaT score lowered to 33
Report describes MMaT value for each donor hospital.
Community feedback needed on continuous distribution of liver and intestinal organs
The committee welcomes community input on liver prioritization exercises through March 15, 2023.
Heart – Lung
New lung allocation policy in effect
First organ type to use continuous distribution framework.
Implementation notice: Continuous distribution of lungs
Effective today (March 9), lungs are now allocated under the approved continuous distribution allocation policy.
Implementation notice: Changes to thoracic donor acceptance criteria
Effective today (March 9), thoracic donor acceptance criteria for candidates no longer require separate data to be specified for both local and import donors.
VCA
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.
Education now available: Updates to living donor exclusion criteria
Professional education on this policy change is now available in UNOS Connect. These policy changes take effect July 26.
Improving the system together
When minutes matter: The issues at stake in organ transportation
A look at the intersecting challenges in organ transportation and a call for government and industry leaders to join the donation and transplant community in finding national-level solutions that ensure donor organs get safely to patients in need.
Nashville’s Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West’s focus on quality improvement
Heather Marshall of Ascension Saint Thomas West Hospital on the education and peer support initiative her program helped pilot.
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.
UNet
Important information about attachments in DonorNet
Starting Nov. 1, users will no longer be able to attach files to donor records in DonorNet® via email or fax. Users will need to utilize the other tools available to upload attachments to donor records.
Reminder: Patient status options for TRF forms
Reminder of Patient Status options available to members. Please continue to complete TRF forms as they are assigned with the appropriate patient status.
Site security administrator search feature now live
Report added to UNet Security Administration that allows site security administrators to search for other site security administrators.
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
Pediatric Status 1A and 1B heart and heart-lung candidates may have expanded access to intended incompatible blood type offers
On March 16, 2023, the OPTN Executive Committee approved immediate implementation of a key portion of. the recently proposed policy to expand eligibility criteria.
New lung allocation policy in effect
First organ type to use continuous distribution framework.
Implementation notice: Continuous distribution of lungs
Effective today (March 9), lungs are now allocated under the approved continuous distribution allocation policy.
Policy monitoring
Three-year monitoring report available for changes to adult heart allocation
A new data report contains key measures of adult heart allocation based on policy changes implemented in October 2018.
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.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
New animation for patients explains the lung Composite Allocation Score (CAS)
New patient-friendly video explains the factors that will determine lung allocation in the continuous distribution framework.
Collaboration
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.
Second phase of national DCD procurement collaborative project ready to launch
Aim is to increase DCD organ procurement, all OPOs are invited to participate.
Education
White paper addresses ethical issues in information to support transplant program selection
Paper addresses likely patient questions and approaches for plain language communication.
TMF 2023 presenter Jesse Schold, Ph.D., on reducing health care disparities in the organ transplant system
TMF session to focus on improving access to transplantation through collaboration.
New animation for patients explains the lung Composite Allocation Score (CAS)
New patient-friendly video explains the factors that will determine lung allocation in the continuous distribution framework.
Lung Composite Allocation Score (CAS) calculator coming February 2023
The lung Composite Allocation Score (CAS) calculator will be available on the OPTN website beginning Feb. 2, 2023.
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Perspectives
From UNOS leaders
Thank you for being part of a record-setting 2022
But before we take a look at the numbers, it’s important to remember the lives behind the data. No record or trend would be possible without the priceless gifts given by generous donors and their families.
Transportation, transparency and other critical issues
UNOS Interim CEO Maureen McBride recounts actions taken during her first 100 days to tackle some of transplant’s biggest challenges.
A pivotal moment for the organ donation and transplant community
McBride addresses public concerns, calls for collaboration and shares vision for the future.
From the community
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.
Why I volunteer: Kidney recipient Precious McCowan
Committee member discusses the importance of patient and donor family advocacy.
““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
Monkeypox educational document available for transplant candidates
Resource addresses risks, treatment and prevention.
Monkeypox summary of evidence report available
The document addresses potential risks and strategies to prevent donor-derived transmission.
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.
Transplant hospital
New store for OPTN transport labels
The OPTN transport label distributor has changed. Users will need to create a new account when logging in for the first time.
Coming soon: New OPTN transport label store
The OPTN transport label distributor will be changing April 27. Users will need to create a new account when logging onto the new label store for the first time.
2022 UNOS staffing survey now open
New enhancements to the 2022 Staffing Survey streamline the user experience and make it easier to submit and receive data.
OPO
New store for OPTN transport labels
The OPTN transport label distributor has changed. Users will need to create a new account when logging in for the first time.
Coming soon: New OPTN transport label store
The OPTN transport label distributor will be changing April 27. Users will need to create a new account when logging onto the new label store for the first time.
Nominations open for the Lisa Schaffner Community Advocate Award
The award recognizes volunteers, such as living donors, donor family members or transplant recipients, who are promoting organ donation and transplantation with little public recognition.
Histocompatibility
Pre-implementation notice: CPRA calculation change
This policy change is intended to more accurately reflect patient sensitization.
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.
What happened in public comment? See what the community had to say. View comments
The U.S. surpassed 1 million transplants in 2022
The gifts of generous donors and their courageous families made several lifesaving transplant records possible.
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes