Transplant Program Personnel, Organization, and Function

Abstract

Transplant centers are complex organizations that include many disciplines. There is a common goal of maximizing the care of organ transplant patients. Determining who is a member of the multidisciplinary team, how they are organized, and what their responsibilities are is an important consideration in the development of a highly functioning, cohesive, and collaborative transplant team. The responsibilities of the team are focused on patient care, case management, communication, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. Transplant care exists in a highly regulated environment, requiring transplant centers to adhere to defined standards in the delivery of care. An overview of some of the regulatory requirements is included as they relate to key personnel, organization, and function of a transplant center. The relationship that transplant centers have with regulatory agencies such as the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is discussed.