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UNOS statement on OPTN requests for proposals
UNOS CEO statement on the OPTN request for proposals issued on May 2, 2024
UNOS unveils new artwork honoring organ donors and recipients
The mural by acclaimed artist Hamilton Glass recognizes the far-reaching impact of organ donation and pays tribute to organ donors
Virginia General Assembly commends UNOS
A commending resolution honors UNOS’ 40th anniversary and the contributions it’s made to the organ donation and transplant system
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Kidney – Pancreas
Webinar to address kidney-after-thoracic safety net, combined kidney-thoracic allocation
The webinar will be recorded and made available for later viewing.
Two-year monitoring report continues to show improvements in equity in access to kidney transplants for several key populations
New data monitoring report contains key measures of the current kidney allocation system, 2-years post implementation.
OPTN Board approves measures to improve kidney offer acceptance process
Greater use of Offer Filters expected to increase efficiency of organ matches.
Liver – Intestine
Improvements to MELD, PELD, Status 1A and Status 1B to take effect July 13
Educational and resource materials are available to support implementation.
Webinars to address improvements to MELD, PELD, Status 1A/1B
Webinars will be recorded for later access.
UNOS supports the Living Donor Protection Act
UNOS is proud to continue supporting the Living Donor Protection Act, providing vital protections for living organ donors.
Heart – Lung
FAQ: New multi-organ polices in effect
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Ad-hoc Multi Organ Transplantation Committee has implemented several safety net policies to ensure patients in need of multiple organ transplants to get priority when they become medically eligible.
Implementation notice: Lung policy modification for blood type
Effective Sept. 27, 2023, the points assigned for blood type in lung allocation have been updated
Pre-implementation notice: Lung policy modification for blood type
Effective Sept. 27, 2023, the points assigned for blood type in lung allocation will be updated.
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 26.
National webinar addresses proposed modifications to graft failure definition for VCA
VCA committee’s proposal open for public comment through March 23.
Improving the system together
Working collaboratively to enhance system performance and improve transplant program monitoring metrics
MPSC’s proposed changes to performance monitoring to go out for public comment in August.
Building a new, more flexible system for organ allocation
How UNOS is using multi-criteria decision-making methodologies to build the continuous distribution framework, a more fair and flexible system for organ allocation
Partnering with experts in fields outside of donation and transplant
Leading experts in other fields across the country and around the world help build the continuous distribution framework
UNet
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....
New enhancements added to DonorNet and Waitlist resulting from NATCO collaboration
The improvements are a direct outcome of a collaborative event during NATCO’s annual conference in August 2023. At this event, transplant professionals joined UNOS’ staff to brainstorm and design enhancements for UNet, focusing on enhancing its capabilities for the community’s benefit.
Three new VCA programs replace GU program
Three new programs have replaced the Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) – genitourinary organ (GU) program
“… policy is the living, breathing expression of group values.”
Martha Pavlakis, M.D. on new policies that put patients first
Policy changes
FAQ: New multi-organ polices in effect
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Ad-hoc Multi Organ Transplantation Committee has implemented several safety net policies to ensure patients in need of multiple organ transplants to get priority when they become medically eligible.
Implementation notice: Lung policy modification for blood type
Effective Sept. 27, 2023, the points assigned for blood type in lung allocation have been updated
Updates to medical urgency scoring of liver transplant candidates in effect
Updated criteria will better identify and prioritize urgent candidates.
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
Another record year for heart transplants: Steep increases seen in DCD transplants in 2022
February is American Heart Month
Collaboration
UNOS launches new pediatric liver collaborative; OPTN launches new improvement website
“All teach, all share, all learn”: members collaborate to increase utilization and share effective practices.
COIIN Results: Increasing the use of high KDPI kidneys
A three-year collaborative improvement pilot project, COIIN, explores new methods of quality monitoring. See how they increased the use of high KDPI kidneys.
Education
TMF 2023 presenter Robert Montgomery, M.D., D.Phil., on increasing organ supply with xenotransplantation
TMF session to explore threats to the organ supply and alternative, renewable solutions.
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.
Effective practices
Learn about collaborative improvement projects
Learn about issues impacting patients, donors, donor families, and the national system. Issues and advocacy
Patient safety
Monkeypox and solid organ donation
The OPTN Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee (DTAC) is evaluating this situation as it develops.
New exception pathway available for heart device recalls
In order to address patient safety concerns, the OPTN Executive Committee approved a modification of OPTN Policy 6.4: Adult and Pediatric Status Exceptions on July 11 that is now in effect.
Emergency action: New exception pathway for heart device recalls
This new policy will allow transplant programs to submit an exception request on behalf of adult heart transplant candidates for a Status 1, 2 or 3 exception without requiring hospitalization if the FDA has recalled their implanted mechanical circulatory support device.
Transplant hospital
Implementation notice: Lung policy modification for blood type
Effective Sept. 27, 2023, the points assigned for blood type in lung allocation have been updated
Learning Congress planned for OPTN DCD Lung Transplant Collaborative
The Sept. Learning Congress, open to all adult lung programs, will mark the conclusion of eight-month collaborative focused on increasing DCD lung transplantation.
New pre-transplant performance metric now in effect, offer acceptance rate ratio
Phase 2 of new system implements to more holistically evaluate transplant program performance.
OPO
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.
An important message from the MPSC on reducing risk and ensuring patient safety
The Membership and Professional Standards Committee shares opportunities for improvement with OPTN members.
Histocompatibility
Waitlist enhancements and new kidney features coming
On Sept. 27, UNOS will launch the first in a series of enhancements to the visual design and workflows in Waitlist.
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.
Stories and tributes
Each person touched by organ donation transplant has a unique story. Threads of hope connect them. Find videos, stories and tributes