A challenge of serving as your President is the constant whir of changing responsibilities. Last week, the NEJM article and “immuno” legislation. This week, I will be representing AST as workgroup chair in a Consensus Conference on Transplant Program Quality and Surveillance, sponsored by SRTR. This is being held in Washington, DC, with a primary focus on addressing the Program Specific Reports (PSRs). Basically, since creation a few years ago by SRTR, with availability to the public at www.srtr.org, PSRs have become very controversial. If their purpose is primarily to facilitate transplant center quality improvement, how else are they to be utilized? By whom? Are the proper metrics applied? The consensus conference promises some very heated discussions that hopefully can impact what the entire country will see over the next 6-12 months.
Are the PSRs serving their original purpose? How could they be made better for centers? For patients?
Any other thoughts?
Robert S. Gaston