FAQ
Where does this data about transplant centers come from?
The data comes from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). The SRTR is a federally funded research group that analyzes data from all transplant centers in the United States for the federal government. The SRTR makes this data available for research and quality reporting purposes. If you have questions about the SRTR data, you can contact the SRTR at 877.970.SRTR (7787).
How is this website different from the SRTR website?
The SRTR website (www.srtr.org) publishes many of the same quality measures for transplant centers and includes some detailed statistical reports and other resources to explain how these quality measures are calculated that are not available on this site.
The SRTR website does not ask for a patient’s medical profile, and does not provide personalized information. This myorgantransplantcentersearch.com website was developed as a research project to evaluate new patient-friendly search tools that are not available on the SRTR website.
This website includes only adult data because there are too few pediatric transplants to allow for a personalized pediatric search. There is some data available for pediatric transplant quality metrics available at the SRTR website.
I want to donate one of my organs, how do I become a donor?
This website is not involved in evaluating organs or donors. These issues are managed by an organization called OPTN/UNOS.
You might consider looking at www.transplantliving.org. Transplantliving.org includes information for those interested in donating. You may find additional information UNOS' website at www.unos.org.
I need to get on the list for a transplant, how do I do that?
This website is not related to the waiting list system in the US. The waiting lists are managed by an organization called UNOS. UNOS has a patient services hotline that might have more information on getting on the waiting list: 888-894-6361.
Generally, patients need to first identify centers they may want to get a transplant at first, and then contact those centers directly to get on lists. You may find additional information at www.unos.org.
This website has some resources available to help you make a decision on which centers might be right for your situation.
Selecting a Transplant Center
This website can provide potential transplant candidates with information that may be helpful in making an informed decision about transplant centers, but we cannot determine what center is best. The best transplant center for each patient depends in many ways on that patient’s situation. Some patients may want to select the transplant center closest to their residence. Others may want to select a center based on its experience with patients with certain conditions, such as diabetes, or certain patient groups, such as pediatrics. Not all transplant centers perform living donor transplants, which may be a requirement for some patients. Some insurance carriers may encourage their patients to seek out specific transplant centers. Individual circumstances dictate the best choice.
I need to know if a certain center will accept me to their list.
Centers have different criteria for adding patients to lists. You can view if a center has recently transplanted patients with medical profiles like you; however, the decision to accept a patient to a waiting list may depend on factors not shown on this website. The only way for a potential transplant patient to know, is to contact the center directly to find out more.
If I want or need to transfer to another center, will my priority on the list change?
No. Your priority transfers with you. We use the term "priority" rather than position, because it is important to understand that even if you are #1 on the list at a center, you may see others offered organs before you. This is due to the allocation policies, which are in place to make sure that not only are organs allocated fairly, but to recipients that are the best match. This is the most effective way to decrease organ discards and decrease graft failure death once the organ is placed. For more information on allocation policies https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/media/1200/optn_policies.pdf
How can I get on the list at more than one center?
Patients can get on the lists of more than one center, called “multi-listing”. In order to benefit the most from multi-listing you will need to find a new center that is in a different donor region. This means the donor pool at the new center will be different from the donor pool at your current center, and a larger donor pool might help you get a transplant faster.
However, to get multi-listed, you still need to contact each center individually to discuss the options. Centers have different criteria for adding patients to lists and may have different tests needed to determine acceptability of a candidate. So, you may already be a candidate at one center and have gone through multiple tests, but another center may not accept the results of those tests, or they may need additional testing. The only way for you to know for sure is to contact the center directly to find out more.