Narrowing the organ donation gap: hospital development methods that maximize hospital donation potential.

The purpose of this article is to identify and describe this organ procurement organization's hospital development methods that have markedly increased the quantity and quality of organ donor referrals. Procedures used include the establishment of organ donor programs (hospital donor programs) within each donor hospital. The goal for these hospital donor programs is to monitor and maximize organ procurement within each institution. Routine quality assurance or death audits along with referral data from the organ procurement organization's database provide both the organ procurement organization and the hospital donor program with the necessary information to evaluate organ procurement strengths and weaknesses. This data is used in concert with ongoing development activities, which include, but are not limited to, physician and staff education and frequent marketing visits. Early referral to the organ procurement organization of all nonsurvivable head injuries for evaluation as potential organ donors, and a timely request for donation by the organ procurement organization coordinator are emphasized. The results of these efforts have been gratifying. In 1989, 138 referrals and 41 organ donations occurred. In 1990, 174 referrals and 66 organ donations occurred. In 1991, 213 referrals and 71 organ donations occurred. In 1992, 228 referrals and 70 organ donations occurred. In the first 6 months of 1993, 146 referrals and 40 organ donations occurred, for a prorated figure of 292 referrals and 80 organ donations annually. In conclusion, these results appear to validate the benefits of this approach and its significant contribution to narrowing the donation supply and demand gap.