The Waiting List

When you become eligible for a transplant, you are added to the national waiting list. 

Under the National Organ Transplant Act, organ transplantation in the United States is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).  Specifically, the Division of Transplantation (DOT), which is part of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is in charge of a federal contract that established and maintains the national waiting list and distributes cadaveric organs fairly.  This organization is called the OPTN (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network) and the contract is currently held by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

Organ preservationist arriving at transplant hospital via helicopter, carrying cooler with a kidney for transplant inside.
Begin learning about kidney transplantation here
Your organs do many things to keep you healthy If your organs don't work, you may need to have a transplant To get a transplant, you have to be tested You can't have a transplant unless someone donates an organ You can't have a transplant unless someone donates an organ You will have to have surgery to place the new organ into your body Most people feel much better after having a transplant Taking care of your new organ will help you feel healthy for years to come Home