1. System Optimizations Work Group Update

2. Expediting the offer process: utility v. choice
This is the Acela, Amtrak’s high speed train that makes the trip from Washington to Boston in 6 and a half hours, rather than the 8, 9 or sometimes 10 hours it takes Amtrak’s regional train service to make the trip.
The Acela is built to travel at up to 150 miles an hour, but it almost never does. Because of other train traffic and other logistical limitations, it usually travels between miles an hour – well within the capability of the regional trains.
So how does the Acela manage to get to Boston faster? Practically all of Acela’s advantage comes not from moving the train faster, but by reducing the number of stops. The Acela zooms through half of the stations on the regional route without even slowing down.

3. To what extent is the community willing to limit our range of choices on individual organ offers in order to prevent discards and increase the number of transplants?

4. System Optimizations to Expedite Organ Allocation
Joint work group including representation from multiple committees
Topics being discussed:
Reducing the time limits for responding to electronic organ offer
(from current 1 hr/1 hr to 30 min/30 min)
Creating an additional time limit for a “final decision” for primary and backup centers (no current requirements)
Technology changes to provide automated notifications (added or modified donor information, primary/backup notification, etc)
This is a joint work group under the OPO Committee that includes representation from multiple committees, including the organ-specific committees, transplant coordinators, and operations and safety.
Topics being discussed:
Reducing the time limits for responding to electronic organ offer (from current 1 hr/1 hr to 30 min/30 min)
Creating an additional time limit for a “final decision” for primary and possibly backup centers (no current requirements or policy that allows OPOs to move on)
Technology changes to provide automated notifications (added or modified donor information, primary/backup notification, etc)

5. System Optimizations to Expedite Organ Allocation
Topics being discussed:
Limit the number of offers accepted for one candidate
Evaluate transplant center acceptance criteria and acceptance practices
Expedited placement of organs (separate project)
Increasing the number of simultaneous offers
Public comment proposal in late summer 2017
Other topics being discussed:
Limit the number of offers accepted for one candidate
Evaluate transplant center acceptance criteria and acceptance practices – maybe come up with improvements or requirements for the current process
Expedited placement of organs (separate OPO Committee project)
Increasing the number of simultaneous offers – although this might be better suited for an expedited placement scenario.
Some of these issues will make up a public comment proposal in late summer 2017