Share Your Life     Share Your Decision    Be an Organ and Tissue Donor!    Did You Know that a Single Organ and Tissue Donor Can Benefit up to 100 Individuals?         Don't Take Your Organs To Heaven....Heaven Knows We Need Them Here!     

The Role of the Designated Requester

The William J. Warner/ Green Hills Rotary Club Organ Donor Awareness Act of 1997 defined individuals who may talk with families about options regarding organ and tissue donation.  According to this Act, “the person making the request for donation, after consultation with the attending physician or designee, shall be an organ procurement agency representative, or a member of the hospital staff trained or designated by the organ procurement agency as a qualified designated requester…..”  As a result, some of the hospitals within our service area have chosen to participate in the Designated Requester program.  TDS also provides family approach services through our Call Center for those hospitals that choose not to train their own staff to serve in this capacity.  In general, TDS staff handles all interactions regarding organ donation.  Designated Requesters are utilized for tissue donation options only.

The primary goal of the Designated requester is to help families by supporting them during end of life decision making.  It is our hope that families will receive accurate information regarding tissue donation in a fashion that will be as sensitive and compassionate as possible.  The Designated Requester introduces the idea of tissue donation after appropriate referral and screening by TDS, gives general information regarding tissue donation, and introduces TDS staff to the family when appropriate.  TDS supports the Designated Requester and retains responsibility for gaining legal consent and a full medical-social history from the donor’s family.

TDS provides training in which the Designated Requester learns the appropriate way to introduce the idea of tissue donation to families.  For more information about availability of this training in your area, please contact your local office.

Regional Offices

Golden State Donor Services 1.916.567.1600 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Fax  1.916.567.8300

Mountain Region Donor Services 1.423.915.0808  Referrals 1.888.562.3774 Fax  1.423.915.1170 

New Mexico Donor Services 1.505.843.7672 Referrals 1.800.843.7672 Fax  1.505.343.1828

Sierra Eye and Tissue Donor Services 1.916.569.0200 Referrals 1.800.762.8819 Distribution 1.800.435.5780 Fax  1.916.569.0300

Tennessee Donor Services Nashville 1.615.234.5251 1.888.234.4440 Referrals 1.800.969.4438 Fax  1.615.320.1655

Tennessee Donor Services  Chattanooga 1.423.756.5736 Fax  1.423.756.5904

Tennessee Donor Services Knoxville 1.865.588.1031 Fax 1.865.588.5903

Tennessee Donor Services Jackson 1.731.425.6393

Our Corporate Office

DCIDS Organ Services 1.888.234.4440

DCIDS Tissue Services 1.888.234.4399

DCIDS Tissue Orders 1.888.216.0319