Other Resources

This video introduces the complex ecosystem in which OPOs operate, illustrating how donor hospitals, transplant centers, donor registries, transportation providers, federal and state regulators, and community partners all work together to support the organ donation process.

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This two-pager highlights findings from interviews with donor families and transplant recipients, capturing firsthand perspectives on their experiences with the organ donation process. Their insights help inform the development of performance measures that reflect what matters most to the people at the heart of donation and transplantation.

Lived Experience, Real Impact (PDF)

This two-pager shares findings from site visits conducted with OPOs across the country, offering a closer look at their day-to-day operations, challenges, and approaches to the donation process. These observations provide essential context for shaping performance measures that reflect the realities of OPO work.

Where the Mission Lives (PDF)

This infographic maps how AOPO engages OPOs, donor hospitals, transplant centers, patients and families, technical experts, and endorsing bodies at every phase of the CMS Blueprint Measure Lifecycle—from identifying priorities through ongoing monitoring and maintenance. It illustrates that stakeholder involvement is not a one-time event but a continuous process that feeds each new cycle of quality improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement Infographic (PDF)

This two-page overview introduces AOPO’s initiative to build a continuous quality improvement system for organ donation and transplantation, anchored by eight independently validated performance measures. It explains how the measures are designed to drive a Plan-Do-Study-Act improvement cycle across OPOs, donor hospitals, and transplant centers, and outlines what the initiative means for each stakeholder group.

Better Measures. Better Outcomes (PDF)

This flowchart walks through the step-by-step clinical and logistical process that occurs from the moment a hospital identifies a potential donor through organ recovery and transplant, covering both donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after circulatory death (DCD) pathways. It also illustrates the many decision points at which donation may not proceed, providing context for understanding OPO performance measures and the complexity of the donation process.

Pathways to Organ Donation (PDF)

This infographic illustrates how the pool of potential organ donors narrows at each stage of the donation process. It maps four key OPO performance measures—referral rate, approach rate, authorization rate, and donation rate—showing where each measure applies and why it matters.

Social Math Infographic (PDF)

This one-page reference defines three of AOPO’s new OPO performance measures—referral rate, approach rate, and authorization rate—explaining the purpose, rate calculation, and quality improvement value of each. Together, these measures track how effectively potential donation opportunities are identified, engaged, and authorized across an OPO’s donation service area.

Measure Spotlight: Referral, Approach, Authorization (PDF)

This one-page reference defines the donation rate measure—the ratio of actual organ donors to the potential donor population within an OPO’s donation service area—and clarifies both what the measure reveals and what it cannot show on its own. It includes the organ donation funnel to illustrate how the potential donor pool narrows due to clinical and situational factors, and guidance on how the measure should be used for quality improvement and general planning.

Measure Spotlight: Donation Rate (PDF)