CONSAD Research Corporation
Health Care
National Liver Allocation System Model.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a regulation on April 2, 1998 intended to improve the effectiveness and equity of the nation's organ transplantation system. The preamble to this DHHS final rule cites the results of several CONSAD analyses of the national organ transplantation system and the impacts on patients of alternative national policies for organ allocation.
As part of numerous ongoing research studies of the national healthcare system, CONSAD has developed exceptional expertise analyzing the the national organ allocation policy for transplantation. Our research into the impacts on patients of alternative national liver transplantation allocation policies has resulted in the development of a Monte Carlo computer simulation model of the allocation system.
CONSAD's simulation model uses patient, organ procurement, and transplant center data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network. The flow of liver transplantation candidates in the model is presented in terms of registration on the national wait list, the progression of patient liver disease, possible death while awaiting transplant, possible transplantation, and final patient outcome post-transplantation.
The model has provided insight into potential intended and unintended consequenses of proposed changes to the national liver allocation system. CONSAD's model allows policy experts to project impacts of important issues related to on organ donation, organ allocation policy, geographic distribution of organs, and transplant center proficiency. The results of the simulation modeling have been shared with members of the national liver transplantation community, patient advocate groups and staff of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
© CONSAD Research Corporation 1999
UPDATE: 09/10/99