U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Voice your opinion
Read six policy proposals, including one about proposed geographic frameworks, and tell us what you think.
Training for heart policy changes
OPO and UNet system training coming soon.
October: Liver Distribution Proposal
Alternative to replace DSAs and regions for distribution.
At a Glance
people need a lifesaving organ transplant (total waiting list candidates). Of those, 75,008 people are active waiting list candidates. Totals as of today 4:27am
organ transplants performed so far in 2017
Total Transplants January - August 2018
as of 09/19/2018
donors
Total Donors January - August 2018
as of 09/19/2018
Organ donation and transplantation can save lives
Every ten minutes, someone is added to the national transplant waiting list.
On average, 95 transplants take place each day in the U.S.
One organ donor can save eight lives. Sign up to be a donor in your state.
Transplants & donors
A total of 34,770 organ transplants were performed in 2017, marking the fifth consecutive record-setting year for transplants in the United States. Also in 2017, a record number of donor organs were recovered and transplants occurred for each of the four most common organs transplanted – kidney, liver, heart and lung. Read more.
Patients waiting
Advances in medicine and technology, and increased awareness of organ donation and transplantation have contributed to a record number of transplants. But, the gap between supply and demand continues. The OPTN is working to ensure that all transplant candidates have a better chance to receive the gift of life.
News
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Wednesday, August 15, 2018
NLRB, liver distribution implementation postponed
The committee is working to replace the local donor service area (DSA) and region as specific units of distribution with an alternative geographic framework. As a result, neither the NLRB nor the previously approved liver distribution policy will be implemented in 2018 as originally scheduled. -
Friday, August 10, 2018
Constituent council initiative tests options to improve committee structure
Two committees, Patient Affairs and Transplant Coordinators, are participating in the proof of concept. -
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Ad Hoc Committee formed to address OPO, transplant center, system metrics
A new ad hoc committee will focus on studying the systems and relationships among OPOs and transplant centers. It will identify tools and principles that can be used to drive collaborative transplant systems performance improvement. -
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Public comment sought (1)
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) offers policy proposals for public comment from August 3 through October 3, 2018. -
Friday, August 3, 2018
Public comment sought
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) offers policy proposals for public comment from August 3 through October 3, 2018.
Resources for professionals
Kidney allocation system materials
Access educational materials, calculators and more.
The OPTN Evaluation Plan is a compliance guide for member hospitals, OPOs and labs.
Patients are the focus of all the OPTN's collective efforts.
Resources for patients
Here's a brief look at how an idea transforms from proposal to transplant policy.
The donation process begins with a decision.
We must allocate each precious organ in the most equitable manner possible.