Top-Performer Centers: How the Flag Works
The "Top-performer" filter on the comparison map highlights every center that runs at least 80% of the program capabilities we track. The rule is simple, public, and auditable. No black-box composite score, no proprietary weighting.
The rule
A center is flagged a top performer if:
``` top_performer = (capability_count / total_tracked_capabilities) >= 0.80 ```
`capability_count` is the number of TRUE flags out of the tracked capability set (with clinician-verified overrides OR-merged via `capOf()`).
What's in the capability set
We track ten program capabilities for every center:
1. NMP-capable — normothermic machine perfusion (any device) 2. HOPE-capable — hypothermic oxygenated perfusion 3. DCD program — donation after circulatory death 4. Split-liver program — one donor liver split between two recipients 5. Reduced-size graft program — graft tailored for smaller recipients 6. ABO-incompatible program — across-blood-type transplant protocols 7. Living donor program — adult-to-adult or pediatric living donation 8. Dual-listing friendly — actively supports listing at a second center 9. ECD program — extended-criteria donor acceptance (older / hep-positive / steatotic) 10. Pediatric living donor program — LD pathway for pediatric recipients
A center needs at least 8 of 10 = TRUE to be flagged.
Why 80%, why this set
- 80% is a deliberately high bar. Few centers run all ten programs; the 80% threshold surfaces the broadest-capability ones without inflating the list.
- Capability breadth ≠ outcomes for every patient. A program with eight capabilities but a structural weakness in your specific etiology may not be your best center. The flag is a starting point for further conversation, not a ranking.
- The data flows from clinician-verified flags + SRTR-published capability columns in our Neon analytics tables. We never derive capability from advertising copy.
What the flag does NOT capture
- Insurance acceptance for your specific plan. Always call.
- Your wait time at this center for your MELD score and blood type. Aggregate medians hide this.
- Caregiver experience, parking, lodging, social work staffing. Not in the SRTR data.
- Subspecialty fit. A program excellent at HCC may not be the right fit for a patient with PSC. Or vice versa.
If a center you trust isn't on the top-performer list, that doesn't mean they're a poor program — it may simply mean they've chosen to specialize rather than run every capability. Use the individual capability filters (NMP, HOPE, ECD, etc.) to find a match for your specific clinical needs.
Where the flag appears
- Gold halo ring on every top-performer pin on the map (always on; you don't have to filter to see it).
- Hero strip in the Navigator showing the closest top-performer to your ZIP, or the national count if you haven't entered a ZIP yet.
- "Top-performer centers" caregiver-flag picklist that culls the map to only top-performers when you want a focused view.
Educational only — clinician review pending. Not medical advice. Your transplant team has the final word.