Expedited Placement Variance

At a glance

Current policy

In August 2023, the OPTN formed the Expeditious Task Force after requests from the transplant community to improve efficiency in the organ transplant system. The task force plans to use process improvement initiatives to improve the transplant system rapidly. Process improvement initiatives related specifically to organ allocation align with the OPTN’s current variance process. This proposal recommends a new variance related to expedited organ placement and proposes modifying the OPTN’s variance process in order to allow for more rapid studies of potential improvement.

Proposed changes

Create a variance to govern pilot projects related to expedited organ placement.
- Gives the OPTN Executive Committee authority to develop protocols for expedited organ placement.
- This approach will allow the OPTN the ability to rapidly iterate on different protocols.
Update portions of the OPTN’s governance structure regarding variances.
- This will allow for a more rapid and iterative approach when creating new variances.

Anticipated impact

What it's expected to do
- Improve efficiency of the organ donation and transplant system
- Increase organ utilization
- Increase transplantation rate

Terms to know

Variance: This is an experimental policy approved by the OPTN. Any variance must comply with the requirements in the OPTN Final Rule and Policy 1.3 Variances. The variance in this specific proposal contains a requirement for the Executive Committee to approve specific protocols.
Protocol: This proposed variance calls for specific protocols. Each of these protocols will contain instructions to study a specific change in allocation. All of these protocols must meet the requirements dictated by the proposed variance.
Expedited Organ Placement: A method of organ allocation to quickly place organs that are at risk of not being used for transplant.