AOPO OPO Metrics Project

Background

What are Performance Measures?

OPO performance measures are data-driven metrics to accurately measure Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) performance. Performance measures are one component of an overall approach to quality improvement and patient safety.

Why are they important to AOPO and OPOS?

Establishing and Redefining Performance Measures:

- - - Brings transparency to the organ donation process and improve the U.S. system for organ donation and transplantation overall.
    - Strengthens accountability, trust, and equity within the system and ensure it remains lifesaving and world-leading for years to come.
    - Aligns partners in the transplant ecosystem around common goals and areas for continuous improvement.

OPO Performance Measurement Project

In March 2025, AOPO partnered with Econometrica, Inc. to launch the Organ Procurement Organization Performance Measurement Project. The project aims to support AOPO in meeting the urgent need to develop new or alternative measures for submission to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Once developed, AOPO can use the measures to promote performance improvement and learning activities.

Using the Blueprint Measure Lifecycle to Guide the Project

We are using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) process by which new measures can be developed and submitted for consideration.

Project Milestones

Conceptualization and Specification

The conceptualization stage involves the identification of measure concepts through research and environmental scans. Specification consists of the creation of instructions for how to calculate a measure, which should ensure that the measure reaches the appropriate target population.

Testing

In measure testing, developers collect data to assess whether the measure meets evaluation criteria, such as importance, feasibility, scientific acceptability, and usability.

Implementation

Measure implementation includes pre-rulemaking and rulemaking processes, measure rollout, and any other activities associated with progressing a measure from development to use.