The individual OPOs represent the front line of organ procurement, having direct contact with the donor's hospital and the family of the recently deceased donor.
[2] Once the OPO receives authorization for donation from the decedent's family or through first-person authorization (such as a state or national Donor Registry), it works with UNOS to identify the best candidates for the available organs, and coordinates with the surgical team for each organ recipient.
[2] OPOs are also charged with educating the public to increase awareness of and participation in the organ donation process.
Many of the OPOs are also members of Donate Life America.
Some OPOs are affiliated with hospitals and are not considered independent.