Allocation During Emergencies

Question 1

Regional and National Emergencies

Answer 1

The OPTN contractor will attempt to distribute instructions to all transplant hospitals and OPOs that describe the impact and how to proceed with organ allocation, distribution, and transplantation

Question 2

Transportation disruptions

Answer 2

If the transportation of organs is either not possible or severely impaired, affected members must contact the OPTN to determine proper operating procedures

Question 3

Internet outages

Answer 3

If the OPTN and members cannot communicate through the internet, affected members must contact the OPTN to determine proper operating procedures

Question 4

Telecommunications outage

Answer 4

If the OPTN and members cannot communicate through telephone, affected members
1. Must contact the OPTN by email to determine operating procedures and to obtain assistance.
2. Must continue to use the OPTN computer match program for organ allocation and distribution
3. Must document and report to the OPTN any variations in allocation or distribution during the telecommunications problems

Question 5

OPTN Computer match program outages

Answer 5

If the OPTN and members cannot communicate by any method and the OPTN computer match program is either not accessible or not operational, affected OPOs:
1. Must refer to recent matches of similar blood type and body size for ranking transplant candidates.
2. Must use transplant program waiting list to match the best organ with waiting transplant candidates
3. Must document and report to the OPTN their process for allocation during the outage