Board places University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on probation

Published on: Saturday, May 30, 2015

June 1, 2015

Atlanta – At its meeting June 1, the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors placed the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) on probation. As established in the OPTN bylaws, probation is a public designation of an OPTN/UNOS member that is executing a corrective action plan for noncompliance with OPTN policies or bylaws, or a serious lapse in patient safety or quality of care. Learn more.

Summary of Events In an unusually high number of instances in 2013 and 2014, the lung transplant program at UPMC accepted lung offers for one transplant candidate, then eventually transplanted another candidate at the program without providing an opportunity for consideration of other candidates identified on the match run.

The OPTN/UNOS Membership and Professional Standards Committee (MPSC) conducted a systematic review of the member’s history and practices, including an interview with representatives of the institution on March 25, 2015. The hospital waived its right for a subsequent hearing. While the institution has instituted a corrective action plan, the MPSC concluded that the organization requires close monitoring as it continues its quality improvement process. The committee recommended that the institution be placed on probation, an action approved by the OPTN/UNOS Board of Directors.