title: Evolution of quality at the Organ Center of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing.
abstract: One of the goals of the Organ Center of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network for Organ Sharing is to increase the efficiency of equitable organ allocation in the United States. Recognizing the ever-growing need for organ donors and transplants, leaders at the Organ Center increased its commitment to quality improvement initiatives through the development of a quality management team in 2001. The Organ Center began to focus on ways to capture data on processes and pinpoint areas for improvement. As the collection and analysis of data evolved, the Organ Center embraced formal quality standards, such as improvement cycles. Using these cycles, the Organ Center has seen significant improvement. One initiative involving lifesaving heart, lung, and liver placement showed success by doubling the Organ Center's organ placement rate. Another project involving the validation of donor information demonstrated that the accuracy of organ allocation can be improved by 5% on a consistent basis. As stewards for the gift of life and leaders in organ allocation, the Organ Center uses continuous quality improvement to achieve the goal of increasing the efficiency of equitable organ allocation.
authors.affiliation: United Network for Organ Sharing, Richmond, VA 23219, USA. brownrs@unos.org
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: A Matthew
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Belton
authors.forename: Judith M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Dee Dee
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Gloria J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Ellie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Willard
mesh_terms: D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000458:organization & administration; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit / Q000458:organization & administration; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States; D014488:United States Health Resources and Services Administration; D014850:Waiting Lists