Research supported by Arnold Ventures and Schmidt Futures in partnership with Organize and the Federation of American Scientists.
© 2024
The following was written by former Chief Technology Officers of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
As former Chief Technology Officers of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), we have seen first-hand the impact that thoughtful systems reforms can have on patient outcomes.
We have also all worked on organ donation reform, one of the very few issues that is so bipartisan that it has been supported by both the Trump and Obama Administrations. We are strongly motivated by data that show organ donation reform can save thousands of lives every year - as well as billions of dollars to the taxpayer - and help address racial disparities in our healthcare system.
The results of this discovery sprint make clear that reforms to governance, process, and technology can help thousands more patients receive life-saving organ transplants each year. Patients deserve the very best both from their government and from the government contractors tasked with managing the organ donation system.
To realize that basic errors in process (e.g., contractors never showing up to donor hospitals) and technology (e.g., organ offers going to deceased patients) are preventing tens of thousands of patients from receiving transplants, highlights exactly where we should focus.
Patients deserve accountability. Proposed reforms from HHS, once finalized, coupled with Congressional oversight, can transform the system. As a patient care issue, an equity issue, and an issue of the best use of taxpayer dollars, policymakers have every reason to get this right. With this thoughtful set of recommendations, there is a clear path forward that will save lives.
HHS Chief Technology Officer, 2009-2012
United States Chief Technology Officer, 2012-2014
HHS Chief Technology Officer, 2012-2015
HHS Chief Technology Officer, 2015-2017
HHS Chief Technology Officer, 2017-2018
HHS Chief Technology Officer, 2018-2020
August 2023: An updated version of The Costly Effects of an Outdated Organ Donation System has been uploaded, which includes updated graphics and text clarifications, correction of formatting and grammatical issues, and correction of broken links.
Research supported by Arnold Ventures and Schmidt Futures in partnership with Organize and the Federation of American Scientists.