OPTN/UNOS Proposals are Available for Public Comment

[Clark]

http://communication.unos.org/2011/03/optnunos-proposals-are-available-for-public-comment/

OPTN/UNOS Proposals are Available for Public Comment
March 24th, 2011  UNOS Communications

Thirteen new policy proposals, developed by various OPTN/UNOS committees, were offered for public comment beginning March 11. These proposals were developed by OPTN/UNOS committees.

Liver and Intestinal Transplantation Committee (three proposals)
Thoracic Organ Transplantation Committee (three proposals)
Living Donor Committee (two proposals)
Operations and Safety Committee (one proposal)
OPO Committee (two proposals)
Pediatric and Liver and Intestinal Organ Transplantation Committee (one proposal)
Pediatric Transplantation Committee (one proposal) 
The public comment period runs through June 10, 2011. View and comment on these policy proposals now.

http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/policiesAndBylaws/publicComment/proposals.asp

7 Living Donor Committee: Proposal to Improve the Reporting of Living Donor Status
The OPTN currently relies on Living Donor Follow-up (LDF) forms to collect data on the short-term health status of living donors. The transplant community must collectively improve patient information on the LDF form to allow for meaningful analyses to objectively study the short-term effects of living donation. Data on living donors who donated in 2006 through 2008 demonstrate that many programs do not report the status of their living donors at required reporting intervals. Under this proposal, transplant programs would be required to accurately report if the living donor is alive or dead at the required post operative reporting periods (6, 12 and 24 months). Follow-up information on donors is especially important in the current climate where the public and the media seek data on the safety of living donation. Without accurate and comprehensive living donor follow-up data, it will not be possible to answer questions and address concerns.

http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/PublicComment/pubcommentPropSub_279.pdf

8 Living Donor Committee: Proposal to Improve the Packaging, Labeling and Shipping of Living Donor Organs, Vessels and Tissue Typing Materials
The majority of living donor organs recovered for transplant are not shipped or transported outside the recovery center, and therefore would not be affected by this proposal. However, the packaging and shipping of living donor organs is increasing, especially as "kidney paired" donation increases throughout the country. Changes to the policies for the packaging and shipping of deceased donor organs, vessels, and tissue typing materials were approved by the OPTN/UNOS Board in November 2010, and took effect in January 2011. The implementation of these new policies has created a situation where the rules for packaging, labeling and shipping deceased donor organs are more stringent than policies for the packaging, labeling and shipping of living donor organs. In response, this proposal would update living donor policy to more closely align with recent changes to the policy requirements for the packaging, labeling and shipment of deceased donor organs, vessels and tissue typing materials. The proposal also clarifies procedures when the living donor organ is not packaged, shipped or transported. The Committee anticipates both transplant centers and Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) would benefit from the standardization of packaging and shipping requirements for all organs. The Committee further expects that applying the existing requirements for the packaging and shipping of deceased donor organs to living donor organs, vessels and tissue typing materials will increase the safety of living donor organs that are packaged and transported outside the recovery facility. The proposal would not preclude transplant centers from entering into an agreement with an OPO to coordinate the packaging and shipping of living donor organs, vessels and tissue typing materials.

http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/PublicComment/pubcommentPropSub_280.pdf