United Network for Organ Sharing and the Waiting List

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is the organization which is contracted with the federal government to oversee all organ procurement and transplant programs in the country.  UNOS makes the rules about who can do transplants and how organs are to be allocated (given) to patients. 

Once you have completed all the required testing and are approved by the selection committee, you will be put on the waiting list. When you are listed you will receive a letter with your listing status. It is impossible to say exactly how long it will take for you to receive a transplant because we never know when donors will be available. Donor organs are matched based on blood type and patient size which can affect organ wait time. Patients who are the most ill will be prioritized on the heart transplant wait list.

If your heart failure worsens while you are on the wait list, you may require implantation of a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) as a bridge to transplantation. Learn more about the Ventricular Assist Device