Newly revised 2013 OPTN Guidance for Donor Followup Procedure Best Practice

[Clark]

http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/ContentDocuments/Guidance_Post_Living_Donor_Follow_Up.pdf

Developed by the OPTN/UNOS Living Donor Committee
Executive Summary
The OPTN has required living donor programs to submit follow-up data on their donors since 2005. Until
recently, the policy did not set specific requirements for what data needed to be completed on the form.
That changed in February 2013 when the newly implemented policy (approved at the November 2012
board meeting) defined specific thresholds not only for data submission but for completeness.
Members of the OPTN Living Donor Committee have been developing and improving resources to help
living donor programs comply with policy. During two waves of research, multiple programs with a range
of living donor follow-up rates were interviewed by committee members. The results of those interviews
together with the results of interviews with UNOS living donor auditors yielded the recommendations
you’ll find in this recently updated guidance document.
Four categories of best practice factors emerged from the research. Although the strategies vary, all highperforming programs developed and implemented core activities that reflect all four of the following
concepts:
• Conviction that follow-up is essential for donor safety and well-being
• Importance of building and maintaining a relationship with each donor
• Use of a systematic approach to follow-up, with ongoing quality assurance activities
• Use of strategies to minimize burden to donors
This document provides strategies and suggestions on how your program can improve care of and collect
data from living donors. You will also find information on how the policy has changed, background
material, and information on the methodology the committee used to conduct its research.