CCTC - Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator Waitlist Management and Allocation Questions and Answers

Question 1

A transplant coordinator is managing a candidate on the heart transplant waitlist.
The candidate, who was previously stable at home (Status 6), is now hospitalized with acute decompensation requiring a single high-dose intravenous inotrope.
According to UNOS/OPTN policy, what is the most appropriate action for the coordinator to take regarding the candidate's waitlist status?

Accepted Answer

Request a status upgrade to Status 1B, as the candidate now requires continuous inotropic support but does not meet 1A criteria.

Answer

Maintain the candidate at Status 6 as hospitalization alone does not warrant a status change.

Answer

Request a status upgrade to Status 1A due to the need for high-dose inotropic support.

Answer

Place the candidate on inactive Status 7 until the acute episode resolves.

Question 2

A patient is being evaluated for placement on the national transplant waiting list. Which of the following is a primary responsibility of the transplant coordinator during the pre-listing phase?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring the patient completes a comprehensive evaluation and understands the informed consent process for listing.

Answer

Surgically performing the organ transplant.

Answer

Independently determining the final organ allocation sequence.

Answer

Contacting the donor's family directly to request organ donation.

Question 3

When a deceased donor organ becomes available, the UNOS/OPTN computer system generates a match run. Which of the following factors is given the highest priority in the allocation of most organs to ensure equity?

Accepted Answer

Medical urgency and compatibility (e.g., blood type, body size).

Answer

The recipient's socioeconomic status or celebrity status.

Answer

The transplant center's geographic preference.

Answer

The length of time the transplant coordinator has been at the center.

Question 4

A transplant candidate on the kidney waitlist has a planned vacation and will be traveling out of the country for two weeks. The candidate informs their transplant coordinator. What is the most appropriate action for the coordinator to take?

Accepted Answer

Change the candidate's status to inactive (e.g., Status 7) for the duration of the travel.

Answer

Remove the candidate from the waitlist permanently.

Answer

Keep the candidate active on the list but advise them to return immediately if an organ becomes available.

Answer

Advise the candidate to cancel their travel plans.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true regarding a transplant candidate's ability to be listed at multiple transplant centers?

Accepted Answer

OPTN policy allows candidates to be listed at more than one transplant center, and they may transfer their primary accrued waiting time between centers.

Answer

It is prohibited by OPTN policy to prevent an unfair advantage.

Answer

A candidate's accrued waiting time from each center is added together to create a longer total waiting time.

Answer

Candidates can only be listed at multiple centers if they are in different UNOS regions.

Question 6

A transplant coordinator receives an organ offer for a patient on the waitlist. After reviewing the donor information, the transplant surgeon determines the organ is not a suitable match for the intended recipient. What is the next step in the allocation process?

Accepted Answer

The OPO offers the organ to the transplant center of the next ranked patient on the match run.

Answer

The organ is discarded as it was refused by the primary center.

Answer

The transplant coordinator can offer the organ to any other patient at their center.

Answer

The OPO must wait 24 hours before offering the organ to another candidate.