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Andrew Klein, M.D. named UNOS Chief Medical Officer
UNOS welcomes new CMO
UNOS responds to inquiry by Sens. Wyden, Grassley about new Chief Technology Officer
Sens. Wyden and Grassley expressed concern about the hiring of UNOS CTO Ankit Mathur. UNOS sets the record straight with an official response.
UPDATE: UNOS responds to inaccuracies in Bloomberg Law article
Bloomberg Law published an article about allegations of conflicts of interest involving UNOS Chief Technology Officer Ankit Mathur. UNOS challenges these defamatory claims and sets the record straight.
UNOS advances plan to restructure transplant network governance to best serve patients
To increase autonomy and transparency to better serve the nation’s transplant patients, UNOS recommends a restructure of respective boards of directors and to establish the OPTN as an independent non-profit entity.
Change addressing disparity for black kidney patients takes effect
New policy allows for waiting time adjustments for those disadvantaged by the use of race-based measures of kidney health.
UNOS leadership requests USDS engagement concerning leaked report and impact on patients
Leaders in organ donation and transplantation seek meeting and assessment with U.S. Digital Service concerning IT systems that make over 41,000 transplants possible per year.
UNOS seeks better air transportation for lifesaving organs
Board Presidents and Interim CEO request meeting with DOT, HRSA, FAA and TSA to find paths for improvement.
UNOS CEO calls for expanded improvements in the organ donation and transplant field
Nonprofit leader acknowledges public concerns and seeks stakeholder collaboration during pivotal moment for the U.S. donation and transplantation community.
Kidney – Pancreas
New kidney biopsy fields added to DonorNet and TIEDI
New kidney biopsy fields have been added to DonorNet® and TIEDI®.
Research in focus: examining organ offers
Three recent studies from UNOS researchers examine offer acceptance practices and impact of Offer Filters tool.
Coming soon: changes to liver-kidney nautical mile threshold
The simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) allocation required share will change from 250 nautical miles to 500 nautical miles for eligible adult candidates.
Liver – Intestine
Research in focus: examining organ offers
Three recent studies from UNOS researchers examine offer acceptance practices and impact of Offer Filters tool.
Coming soon: changes to liver-kidney nautical mile threshold
The simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) allocation required share will change from 250 nautical miles to 500 nautical miles for eligible adult candidates.
Updated National Liver Review Board guidance in effect for multivisceral candidates
New exception point assignments for qualified candidates needing multi-organ combinations including a liver and intestine
Heart – Lung
FAQs: Submitting supplemental oxygen values for lung candidates
Submitting supplemental oxygen values for lung candidates frequently asked questions and answers.
Lung transplant rates continue to increase six months post implementation of new lung policy
Lung-alone transplants have increased by 11.2 percent.
Pre-implementation notice: Data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates coming
Several data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates will be implemented Dec. 13, 2023.
VCA
VCA into UNet: education available
At-a-glance Professional education is now available for members who will list and manage the records of VCA transplant candidates and donors when allocation moves into UNetSM on Sept. 14. To access professional education, log into UNOS Connect and search for: VCA 102:...
Pre-implementation notice: VCA coming to UNet Sept 14, 2023
Implementation date Sept. 14, 2023 At-a-glance Allocation of all Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) organs will move to UNet on Sept. 14. Please review the information in this notice to ensure that your program is prepared for the transition. Changes to UNet on...
VCA coming to UNet Sept 14, 2023
Allocation of all Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) organs that were originally scheduled to move into UNet in Spring 2023, will now implement on Sept. 14.
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.
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.
UNet
Data confirmation reports now available in Data Services Portal
Will allow new functionality and flexibility
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.
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
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.
Three new VCA programs replace GU program
Three new programs have replaced the Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) – genitourinary organ (GU) program
Pre-implementation notice: Data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates coming
Several data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates will be implemented Dec. 13, 2023.
Policy monitoring
Three-month monitoring report for heart policy following a device recall now available
Report shows key measures of adult heart allocation based on policy changes implemented in July 2022.
Two-year monitoring report available for the elimination of the use of DSAs in heart allocation
A new data report contains key measures of adult heart allocation based on policy changes implemented in January 2020.
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.
Learn: Collaborative improvement and educational resources
IN FOCUS
New milestone reached in kidney donation and transplant
For the first time, more than 25,000 kidney transplants were performed in a single year
Collaboration
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.
26 OPOs join new UNOS-led collaborative to increase DCD donor recoveries
DCD organ recoveries have steadily risen over past decade.
Education
Animated videos describe MELD, PELD formulas
Resource especially designed to inform transplant patients and their caregivers.
UNOS researchers present studies at 2023 American Transplant Congress
Twenty-two UNOS staff members presented research from 42 studies at the 2023 American Transplant Congress, addressing topics including social determinants of health, offer-acceptance practices, and the impacts of allocation-policy changes.
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Perspectives
Surgical assistant Jacob Mansy on collaborating to optimize the DonorNet website
Mansy volunteered in a group of 17 transplant organizations that receive organ offers who, in the spring of 2019, convened to influence development of a new DonorNet Mobile.
UNOS Ambassador and 2020 heart recipient expresses gratitude following transplant
Mark Berney is a heart transplant recipient during the time of COVID-19.
Saving lives together: Happy Holidays from the UNOS Organ Center
This holiday season, organ placement specialists are working around the clock in the UNOS Organ Center to help place lifesaving organs across the country.
Leadership news
UNOS appoints new CEO
Maureen McBride, Ph.D., chosen to lead the organ donation and transplant community through time of change and opportunity.
Community update: Policy development based on continuous distribution
Updates on the status of each of the continuous distribution initiatives from Board of Directors President Jerry McCauley, M.D.
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.
“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
Voluntary recall of Becton, Dickinson CD5 Series of Genesis sterilization containers
Read the complete recall notice for details.
One-year monitoring report for the Pediatric National Heart Review Board now available
Report contains summary level information on the exception request decisions made by the Pediatric National Heart Review Board.
Three-month monitoring report for heart policy following a device recall now available
Report shows key measures of adult heart allocation based on policy changes implemented in July 2022.
Transplant hospital
Site surveys to be conducted virtually beginning January 2024
Beginning January 2024, all aspects of our routine site surveys will be conducted virtually.
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.
Pre-implementation notice: Data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates coming
Several data collection changes for lung and heart-lung candidates will be implemented Dec. 13, 2023.
OPO
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.
Now in effect: Changes to liver-kidney nautical mile threshold
The required share threshold for simultaneous liver-kidney (SLK) allocation has expanded from 250 nautical miles to 500 nautical miles for eligible adult candidates (e.g., Status 1A or MELD of 29 or greater).
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.
Histocompatibility
FAQ for patients: CPRA calculation change
We’ve put together some frequently asked questions to help patients wondering about the upcoming change.
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.
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes