1. Transplant Administrators Committee (TAC)
Fall 2016

2. TAC OPTN Activities Education/communication efforts
Considering fiscal impact of OPTN policies
Informing OPTN/UNOS Committees
Contributing to cross-committee workgroups
As part of TAC’s ongoing OPTN activity, we have a standing education workgroup that will
Help inform the transplant community about OPTN educational resources
Advise UNOS on educational resources and topics that patients, transplant centers, and transplant professionals may find useful
Compile educational materials for fellow transplant administrators
Collaborate with other transplant organizations on educational efforts, helping to reduce duplicative work
Also, TAC members have consistently raised concerns about the fiscal impact OPTN policies have on transplant centers. Knowing that those concerns are not a part of the policy development process, the TAC representatives gave UNOS staff input on how to develop a process and resources to help both OPOs, Histo labs and transplant centers address the issue. As you heard earlier, the feedback received will be incorporated in the policy development process.
TAC continues to give OPTN/UNOS committees feedback about public comment proposals before they are released for public comment. TAC members also contribute to cross-committee workgoups to provide insight on changes that might affect transplant-center operations.

3. 2015 UNOS Staffing Survey Released: February 2016
Closed: May 15, 2016 — a new and earlier deadline!
Only programs completing the survey can see benchmarking data results
Results available at
Help documentation available
2016 Staffing Survey expected release
January/February 2017
Deadline May 15, 2017
Every year we invite transplant centers to participate in a staffing survey. This helps administrators determine optimal staffing levels—both nursing and ancillary—given the size and unique characteristics of their transplant center.
The survey’s primary focus is to get a sense of the size and scope of each transplant program … and also identifies the type of personnel working there, as well as how many staff are in each role.
In return, we provide benchmarking data only to those programs that submit their completed form. We released the 2015 Staffing Survey in February 2016 and programs had May 15th to complete it. The deadline was moved up to May in efforts to increase participation.
The TAC UNOS Staffing Survey workgroup developed help documentation slides that members can use when completing the survey.
The 2016 Survey is expected release date is January/February 2017 and the deadline is May 15.
You will be able to access the survey on the UNetSM Transplant Administrators site. Contact the UNet Helpdesk at or if you need access.

4. 2015 Staffing Survey Overall, highest number of surveys received – 393
The 2015 Survey response set a record level. As shown above, response rates were about 65% of all programs.   In addition to the normal channels of advertisement (regional meetings, the Transplant Pro e-newsletter, the Transplant Management Forum, Transplant Administrator listserv messages, and UNetSM system notices), the survey team reached out to former survey participants via directed s.  The staffing workgroup also enhanced the FAQ page and instructions, and created a tutorial slide set and a matrix worksheet.   The team surmises that the earlier deadline as well as the clearer instructions and enhanced communication streamlined submission of the survey and ultimately increased participation. 
The workgroup will continue improving the survey to make it a more useful tool for transplant administrators.

5. UNOS Request For Information (RFI)
2016 UNOS RFI released January 28, 2016:
2017 RFI will be released late January 2017
Contact payers for deadlines
The UNOS Request for Information (RFI) documents were released to transplant hospitals so that they could submit essential organ transplant program data to insurance and managed care companies.
UNOS released its 2016 transplant center RFI Jan. 28.  Transplant administrators can complete the forms until the 2017 RFI is released in late January, but please contact your center’s payers for other relevant deadlines.
Transplant administrators should work with the person who is responsible for completing their center’s RFI since they may need some assistance with transplant terminology and information requirements.
The RFI is available on the UNetSM transplant administrators’ website ( Review your center’s data tables at srtr.org before completing the RFI. (Note: If you have questions about SRTR data, please contact SRTR at
Contact the UNet Help Desk with questions or to obtain access.

6. Transplant Administrators Listserv
Join our Listserv!
ators/info
All transplant administrators are invited to join the Listserv. It’s an excellent way to receive immediate feedback and advice from your fellow administrators and learn about educational opportunities. Just use the URL on this slide and follow the instructions.

7. Start planning now for the 2017 UNOS Transplant Management Forum (TMF), to be held April in Orlando at the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. Registration typically opens in December; the early-bird registration fee is $750 and increases $100 after a certain date.

8. 2017 TMF Call for Abstracts First deadline was in August
Upcoming deadline – Jan. 19, 2017
Learn more at
TAC invites individuals to share their research and non-research projects by submitting an abstract for consideration at TMF. Each abstract will be considered for presentation and/or poster—and for one of the $1,000 Transplant Administrators Abstract sponsored awards. Abstracts are a great way to share all the hard work you, your colleagues and your peers have done.
Deadline to be considered for a full plenary, concurrent, mini-oral or poster presentation was Aug 18, 2016.
Abstracts for award and poster presentation only will be accepted no later than Jan. 19, 2017.
Note that ALL abstracts submitted in the appropriate format prior to the last deadline will be considered for an award and poster presentation.

9. Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration Award
Nominations open – End of September
Nominations close – End of November
Review nomination criteria at
The Heckenkemper Leader in Transplant Administration Award has been a part of the TMF for 5 years now. This prestigious award was created in memory and honor of Deedle Heckenkemper and the contributions he made in the foundation and development of the OPTN/UNOS Transplant Administrators Committee and his contributions to the donation and transplantation community.
Nominations will open at the end of September and will close at the end of November.
Start thinking about who you would like to nominate by reviewing the overall nomination and individual achievement criteria for the award on transplant pro under education/transplant management forum.

10. Questions?
James Pittman Committee Chair
Angel Carroll, M.S.W. Committee Liaison