ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are entities that play an integral role
in the organ transplantation process through the provision of all activities related to organ donation. This includes education of the general public, education of medical professionals in hospitals, assisting hospitals with the development of written policies and procedures, obtaining family consent, medical evaluation of potential donors, the surgical removal of organs, organ preservation, organ distri bution, and follow-up with participants of the recovery process. The OPO is also responsible for required reporting to the national Organ Procurement and Trans plantation Network (OPTN), the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and, in some cases, state health organizations.
