NTS – Effect of Centralizing Retrieval Locations #SWI2026

The tissue retrieval process

The NTS (Netherlands Transplantation Foundation) is commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to coordinate nationwide processes and collaboration within the organ and tissue donation chain, and to monitor the chain’s performance. This mandate covers tissue donation of eye tissue, skin, heart valves, and bone and tendon tissue.

After a patient has passed away, the medical professional reports the deceased as a potential donor to the NTS. Before proceeding, the medical professional gathers information about the patient, which is then reviewed by the donation professional from the Organ Center. If the donor is deemed suitable for tissue donation, the Organ Center commissions the tissue-retrieval organization, the Dutch Tissue Retrieval Organization (WUON), to retrieve the tissue(s). Retrieval takes place in hospitals and mortuaries throughout the Netherlands.

WUON’s specialized teams are available 24/7 to perform tissue retrievals. Staff work according to a rotating schedule consisting of various shifts. Each team travels to the hospital where the donor is located to perform the retrieval there. In the Netherlands, some hospitals outsource their mortuary services to third parties. In such cases, the donor is transferred to a different location.

The number of tissue donors is increasing
In recent years, the number of tissue donors has risen. This raises the question of whether the process can be organized more efficiently and effectively. What would happen if more hospitals outsourced their mortuary management? And does performing tissue retrievals centrally at one or two specialized locations offer opportunities to improve quality and optimize logistics?

 

 

Core Assignment

Investigate the effect of centralizing retrieval locations by developing four scenarios. Make distinctions per tissue type: eye tissue, skin, heart valve, and bone tissue.

Additional Tasks

• Identify seasonal differences per scenario.
• Simulate the impact of allowing retrieval within 48 hours after death for each scenario.
• Assess outcomes if donor numbers remain at 2025 levels, and if donor numbers increase or decrease by 15%.

Expected Output

• Quantitative comparison of the scenarios (distance, time, capacity, cooling time).
• Optimized retrieval schedules (staff capacity) per scenario.
• Graphs and tables visualizing differences.
• Recommendation on which scenario is most efficient, including substantiated reasoning.

 

Scenarios

1. Current situation (no centralization)

• Describe and quantify the current distribution of retrieval locations.
• Calculate the current average distance and lead time.

2. Full centralization with one location (Schiphol)

• Analyze the impact of transferring all retrieval activities to a single central location at Schiphol.

3. Partial centralization with one location at Schiphol and remaining retrievals in hospitals

• Investigate the distribution of retrievals between Schiphol and the existing hospital locations.

4. Partial centralization with two locations

• Propose a second strategically suitable location (e.g., based on incidence, geographical distribution, or proximity to major hubs).
• Investigate the distribution of retrievals across Schiphol and this second location.