News
Read the latest news releases and articles from the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network below:
OPTN Modernization
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
HRSA launched the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Modernization Initiative to better serve the needs of patients and families.
Read the press release-
Journal article examines rise in kidney discard rate over time
Monday, December 19, 2016
A recent study analyzed factors underlying the steady increase in discards of deceased donor kidneys.
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Imminent and eligible definition data reporting changes
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Effective Jan. 1, 2017; training available on UNOS Connect
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Changes to requirements for donor information shipped with organs
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Changes align with CMS regulatory changes, effective January 1, 2017.
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Nominees chosen for 2017 board election
Sunday, December 11, 2016
OPTN/UNOS member voting representatives will receive a ballot and biographical information for the nominees in early 2017.
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OPTN/UNOS Board Places Indiana Donor Network on Probation
Monday, December 5, 2016
A routine site survey of records at the organization identified concerns with completeness of documentation in donor charts and adherence to its established quality processes.
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Probation ended for Baptist Memorial Hospital
Monday, December 5, 2016
The board had placed the hospital on probation in October 2014 to address concerns relating to a pattern of lower-than-expected patient and graft survival rates at its heart transplant program. More recent outcomes for heart recipients transplanted at the hospital have shown improvement.
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OPTN/UNOS Board approves revised adult heart allocation system, clarifies exception points for liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma
Monday, December 5, 2016
The OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors, at its meeting Dec. 5 and 6 in St. Louis, approved a major update of the system used to allocate hearts for adult transplant candidates nationwide. In other action, the Board approved policy changes to refine automatic approval of exception points for liver transplant candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer.
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At one year anniversary, HOPE Act impact continuing to be assessed
Monday, November 21, 2016
As of November 18, 2016, 19 transplants (13 kidney and six liver transplants) have been performed involving organs from HIV-positive donors for HIV-positive recipients.
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Webinar recording available on improving post-transplant communication
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Policy changes are effective September 1, 2016; updates in special pathogens list effective December 1, 2016.
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Committee continues review of input on liver distribution issues
Thursday, November 3, 2016
The committee will further review various solutions to address geographic disparities in liver distribution, with the goal of developing a revised proposal for public comment in the near future.
Click on a page number to view more news in chronological order.