How Do I Engage DonorConnect?
When do I call DonorConnect? (Adult patient)
- Any ventilated patient with a devastating illness or injury:
- GCS 5 or less (NOT chemically induced)
- Loss of any 3 Cranial Nerve Functions: cough, gag, pupil response, pain response, respiratory effort
- Consideration of Brain Death Testing
- Any discussion of:
- Change in code status to DNR
- Grave prognosis
- De-escalation of care
- Withdrawal of support
- Family asking questions about donation
When do I call DonorConnect? (Pediatric patient)
- Any ventilated patient with a devastating illness or injury:
- GCS 3 or less (NOT chemically induced)
- Loss of any 3 Cranial Nerve Functions: cough, gag, pupil response, pain response, respiratory effort
- Consideration of Brain Death Testing
- Any discussion of:
- Change in code status to DNR
- Grave prognosis
- De-escalation of care
- Withdrawal of support
- Family asking questions about donation
Why do I need to notify DonorConnect of every death or imminent death?
Federal and local regulations mandate that every death and every imminent death be reported to the local organ procurement organization (aka DonorConnect). As a separate consultant, DonorConnect is able to determine the suitability of each patient for organ and/or tissue donation on a case-by-case basis.
What is my role after I call?
- Maintain the patient's hemodynamics
- Organ donation can only occur if the organs are kept viable through mechanical ventilation and vascular support.
- Provide a grave prognosis to the family
- Families need time to accept what has happened to their loved one. Be consistent in your message and work with DonorConnect staff members to determine the best time to tell the family about donation.
- Work as a team with DonorConnect
- It is important for all multidisciplinary medical staff from the hospital as well as DonorConnect to work as a team to discuss and communicate declaration, patient management, and the family care plan.
What if I'm not sure my patient is eligible, or may not survive?
Always call! Our coordinators are specially qualified to screen all donors for eligibility. You never know what the outcome might be. The worst that will happen is that DonorConnect will simply stop following your patient.
Who talks to the family about donation?
DonorConnect has a highly trained staff whose primary role is to ensure families or other authorized personnel carry out the legally binding authorization decisions of their loved ones to be donors. When there is no prior legal documentation of authorization, we seek authorization for donation from the legal next of kin or authorized. It is the responsibility of the hospital to provide a grave prognosis and to inform families of the death of their loved ones. However, CMS guidelines require a ‘Designated Requester’ (a DonorConnect team member) to be the one to approach families about donation.
How do I contact DonorConnect?
Call the Donor Referral Line at 800-833-6667 (1-800-83-DONOR). We are available 24/7, every day of the year. These calls are answered by our answering service. Shortly after providing the initial referral information, one of our organ coordinators will call you directly.
OR
If your facility has iReferral capabilities, please use the electronic referral system.
