When the entire medical evaluation has been completed, the cardiologist will make his or her recommendation to the Medical Review Board at its next meeting. The board meets once a week. Members include representatives from Cardiology, the Cardiovascular Transplant Service, Transplant nursing staff, Dietary, Social Services, Pastoral Care, hospital administration and the Business Office. Board members will decide if transplantation is a good option for you. You will be notified of their decision as soon as possible.

If you are accepted for transplantation, you will be placed on a national computer list of active candidates waiting for a donor. Actual recipients are chosen according to a complex set of criteria, including blood type, body and organ size, physician condition, medical priority, and length of time on the waiting list. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) coordinates the equitable sharing of organs throughout the United States and oversees all donor centers and procurement agencies.

LifeGift Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) is the official agency that serves the Houston area. LifeGift will coordinate all activities required to find, match, retrieve, and deliver your new heart. It serves 29 counties in Texas and, in all probability, your heart will come from this service area.

The waiting period can take several months. If you are from out of town, you will probably be asked to stay in Houston until your transplantation. During this time the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Transplant Service staff and your cardiologist will maintain close contact with you. The transplant coordinators must be able to locate you 24 hours a day, and you must be able to reach the hospital within an hour or two of the time that the donor heart becomes available.