A Simulation-Optimization Framework To Improve The Organ Transplantation Offering System

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simulation-optimization framework to enhance organ transplant offer procedures, increasing organ utilization and reducing allocation times by leveraging real-world data and adaptable policies.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, flexible simulation-optimization approach applicable to all organ types, improving efficiency and organ utilization in transplant systems.

Findings

Increased organ utilization under the proposed policy.

Reduced organ allocation times, sometimes significantly.

Applicable to multiple organ types with real-world data.

Abstract

We propose a simulation-optimization-based methodology to improve the way that organ transplant offers are made to potential recipients. Our policy can be applied to all types of organs, is implemented starting at the local level, is flexible with respect to simultaneous offers of an organ to multiple patients, and takes into account the quality of the organs under consideration. We describe in detail our simulation-optimization procedure and how it uses underlying real-world transplant data to inform the decision-making process. We present results using our liver and kidney models, where we show that, under our policy recommendations, more organs are utilized and the required times to allocate the organs are reduced -- sometimes dramatically.