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Direct Measurement of Organ Procurement Organization Donor Potential Using Comprehensive Referral Analysis:
J Thomas Rosenthal1,2, James R Rodrigue3, Tom Seto2
1Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
Transplantation
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Directly measuring organ procurement organization (OPO) donor potential using hospital referral data is feasible and more accurate than current administrative methods. This approach offers a reliable alternative for assessing OPO performance and improving organ donation rates.
Area of Science:
- Organ donation and transplantation research
- Public health and healthcare management
- Medical data analysis
Background:
- Current methods for assessing organ procurement organization (OPO) performance lack reliability.
- A direct measurement of donation service area donor potential is needed.
- Previous research established a validated direct measurement of donor potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the usability of a direct measurement of donor potential.
- To evaluate this method using referral data from 6 US OPOs.
- To determine its suitability as an alternative to current OPO performance measures.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed 45,458 potential organ donor referrals to 6 US OPOs in 2023.
- Categorized and quantified reasons cases did not proceed to donation.
- Assessed missed referrals through tissue referrals and chart audits of all hospital deaths.
Main Results:
- 40,978 of 45,458 referrals were ruled out clinically, leaving 4,480 medically suitable potential donors.
- The percentage of medically suitable referrals varied from 7.5% to 12.4% across OPOs.
- Hospitals referred over 99% of medically suitable potential donors, supported by robust OPO electronic systems.
Conclusions:
- Directly determining OPO donor potential from hospital referral analysis is feasible and can be validated across OPOs.
- This direct measurement is more accurate than methods using administrative data.
- National organizations should further develop and implement this direct measurement approach.
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