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Gifts
of Donation
Organ Allocation
Transplant Process
Brain Death
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Religious Beliefs
Facts and Statistics
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Organ
Allocation
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services divided the organ allocation
system into service areas. Ohio has multiple service areas, each with
a designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). When a donor organ
becomes available, the area OPO places a call to the United Network for
Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS generates a computerized, prioritized list
of patients that matches the donor organ based upon the following medical/scientific
criteria: size, blood type, medical urgency, geographic location and length
of waiting time. Each criteria is given a different "weight"
depending on the type of organ.
If there is no medical match within the OPO service area, the organ is
offered to a patient on the list who lives in the same UNOS region of
the country. Life Connection of Ohio is in Region 10 which includes Ohio,
Michigan and Indiana. If there is still no medical match, the organ is
then offered to a patient anywhere in the country.
Although many believe that fame and celebrity status are a factor in receiving
a transplant, no consideration in allocation is given to social factors
such as wealth, celebrity status or race!
Matching Donors And Recipients:
DONOR
1.
DONOR enters the system.
2.
Hospital and OPO evaluate donor, transmit organ availability to
UNOS.
3.
UNOS compares available organ with UNOS patient waiting list.
When suitable match is found, recovery team is notified.
4.
Recovery team removes organ. Organ is transported to recipient
transplant center.
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RECIPIENT
1.
PATIENT enters the system.
2. Transplant center evaluates patient, adds name to waiting list,
and transmits patient information to UNOS.
3. UNOS adds patient to its waiting list. When suitable organ
match is found, transplant center is notified.
4. Transplant team receives organ, performs transplant
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