Impact of an organ donor and tissue donor advocacy program on community hospitals.

A crucial shortage of organ donors exists in the United States. The majority of donor referrals come from large (greater than 500) beds) hospitals and trauma centers. To determine whether a significant number of donors who are not being recognized or referred also existed in medium-sized (300 beds) community hospitals, a Donor Advocacy Program was instituted at Francis Scott Key Medical Center in May 1987. This team developed policies and procedures to identify potential donors and conducted educational programs for physicians and nurses. A designated "Donor Advocate" made daily rounds on the inpatient units to maintain donor awareness and facilitate potential donations. After the first year, the program was evaluated. In comparison to the average of the previous three years, donor referrals increased by approximately 400 per cent and tissue donations increased over 500 per cent. Four organs were retrieved from two donors. It is concluded that an increase in referrals and tissue donations can be achieved at community hospitals through a structured donor awareness program. Recommendations are made to further examine the age group most often eligible for organ and tissue donations in community hospitals and target educational efforts accordingly. Commitment of hospital administration is vital to a positive outcome in such a program.