Hospital Education

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!

News and Events for Hospitals and Healthcare Professionals

Hospital-Specific Data Reports

In June 1998 the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), now the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), issued the Medicare and Medicaid Programs Hospital Conditions of Participation (CoP) for Identification of potential organ, tissue, and eye donors. This required hospitals to refer all deaths or imminent deaths to their organ procurement organizations (OPOs) for donor suitability screening. In a recent report, they noted that despite the fact the OPOs routinely collect hospital-specific data on donor referrals and donation rates, they are not reported on a national level. To adequately meet the intent of the recommendations and to more fully evaluate the CoP’s impact on donation, the OPO is now required to report hospital-specific referral and donor activity on a monthly basis.

CMS Hospital Surveys – Donation Compliance Issues

We recently received more detailed information about the survey process from CMS (formerly HCFA). It has been our experience that they are looking more closely at compliance issues in the area of organ and tissue donation. Generally, the CMS surveyor may ask for:

	The hospital’s Statement of Agreement with the OPO, Tissue Bank, and Eye Bank.
	The hospital’s Policy and Procedure regarding Organ and Tissue Donation, which should include definitions of “imminent death” and “timeliness” for referral of potential organ donors.
	Information about the referral of patients from your hospital.
	Information about who approaches families about donation, since the CoP mandates that either an employee of the OPO or a trained designated requester approaches the family about donation options.
	Documentation of staff education.

We at DCIDS are eager to work with you in assuring your hospital has all the necessary components. Please contact your local OPO for questions and/or assistance.

Advance Directives – Honoring Personal Decisions about Donation

Recently, our DCIDS Call Center implemented a change to help identify decisions about donation that are made by individuals prior to death. When a referral is made to our Call Center, after the potential for donation has been established, we will be asking the referring nurse or practitioner whether the patient has a legal document in his/her chart that indicates their wishes about donation (Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care.) If so, we may ask that you fax a copy of that document, so the appropriate information can be shared with the family.

The following is from a DCI Donor Services brochure titled Legislative Changes in Donation, an Update for Physicians:

"In 1996, I lost a dear friend, Bill Warner. Bill left an important legacy to three other people - the Gift of Life.

Bill’s commitment to donation, as well as knowing that thousands of people were waiting for a desperately needed transplant, motivated me to find a way to make a real difference. I introduced a bill in 1997 after learning that legislation in Pennsylvania had increased the number of organ donors by 20%.

I charged the Organ Procurement Organizations, the THA and the TMA to modify the bill only to the extent that it would be more appropriate to Tennessee. This bill - the William J. Warner/Green Hills Rotary Club Organ Procurement Act of 1997 - passed the Tennessee Legislature unanimously.

Together, we can provide a meaningful service not only to those who are waiting, but also to the many families who face the decision that can mean life to someone else."

Mike Williams, State Representative, Franklin, Tennessee

Legislative Changes

Today, almost 84,000 people await a life-saving organ transplant - more than 1,600 here in Tennessee. Each day, 17 of those patients die waiting!

As a result of the William J. Warner...Act of 1997, Tennessee law now requires:

	hospitals to refer all deaths to a designated organ procurement organization (OPO);
	that a properly signed and witnessed donor card cannot be revoked by anyone other than the donor, and;
	directs the use of only OPO personnel (or hospital personnel trained and designated as requesters by the OPO) in providing information about donation to families.

The motivation behind this change is to assure a comprehensive, sensitive, and timely approach to the subject of donation for all families. As a result, hopefully more organs and tissues for those patients in need will be donated.

Introducing Donation As An Option

Studies consistently show a collaborative effort is far more effective when donation options are offered to a grieving family. Recent studies indicate two important factors have a positive impact on the consent process:

	Who makes the request and;
	When the subject of donation is introduced.

Consistently, the most successful consent processes involve both a coordinator and the physician or hospital staff.

Equally as important, the consent rate increases when the family has been given sufficient time between the news of the death and introduction of the subject of donation. TDS Coordinators can spend the necessary time to ensure family understanding and acceptance of brain death. TDS will always involve the physician in coordinating the delivery of information and the approach about donation options.

Family Support And Understanding

Our goals are to collaboratively provide support and information to grieving families in order to assist them in making informed decisions about donation.

During the patient’s hospital stay, you have been the focal point of the patient’s care. After death, you are essential in assuring the family’s right to donate is preserved.

"...the role of the physician is integral in the referral and donation process and the process for identifying potential organ donors will not change a bit. Tennessee Donor Services will never approach a family without consulting with you first."

Arthur R. Cushman, MD, President

Tennessee Neurosurgical Society

"...When a referral is made to the donor program, you have already done your best to save the patient; the goal at that point is to help the family and potential organ recipients through a cooperative effort with donor services."

Bert Meric, MD, Neurosurgeon

Knoxville, Tennessee

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