FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jenny Daigle | jdaigle@aopo.org
AOPO Statement in Support of Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act
McLean, VA (October 7, 2024) — The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) supports the Organ Donation Referral Improvement Act and recognizes it as an important step toward enhancing the nation’s organ donation system. This legislation has the potential to streamline the hospital referral process and make it easier for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) to identify and authorize potential donors and ensure that every potential donor has the chance to save lives.
We commend Representative Wittman for his leadership and commitment to advancing the cause of organ donation, and we believe this Act will address a significant gap in our current system. By studying automatic donor referrals and providing recommendations for nationwide adoption, the legislation leverages new technology to enable greater collaboration between OPOs and hospitals.
Research demonstrates that OPOs and hospitals using automated referral systems have experienced an increase in donor identification, more timely and consistent referrals, higher donation rates and a reduction in nursing hours spent on donation cases compared to hospitals that rely on manual referral processes.
To reach our goal of 50,000 organs transplanted in 2026, AOPO and its members are committed to advancing legislation which strengthens an OPO’s ability to fulfill their lifesaving mission through research and innovation, and we call on Congress to prioritize its passage.
About the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO)
The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) is the not-for-profit trade association leading the nation’s organ donation community to save and improve lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Founded in 1984, AOPO advances organ donation and transplantation by driving continual improvement of the donation process, collaborating with stakeholders, and sharing successful practices with its 47 member OPOs. AOPO envisions a future where every opportunity for donation results in lives saved. For more information, please visit www.aopo.org.