Course Overview

 

 

In this course, you will learn about your role and responsibilities in the organ donation process, as well as the role CORE plays.

It's important to understand that all of a hospital's responsibilities with respect to organ donation have been defined and designated by federal and state laws as well by the Department of Health and Human Services. This is also true with respect to CORE's responsibilities; federal and state laws shape the OPO's role. We have designed this course to help healthcare providers understand and appreciate that the process of organ donation as a natural part of end-of-life care and that adherence to best practices does not conflict with the values of saving lives that the healthcare community shares. It is also important that the hospital and the OPO staff clearly understand their respective roles and responsibilities. By adhering to specified roles, hospital and OPO staff can ensure that each and every viable organ is made available.


UNIT 1: Collaborative Relationships

 

Main Outcome

Recognize the collaborative role of hospital staff in working with the OPO on donor and potential donor cases.

Objectives

  1. List the federal regulations that require donation opportunities to be evaluated for all end-of-life cases.
  2. Define “Process Breakdown”.
  3. Describe the potential real life consequences of Process Breakdowns.
  4. Participate in a huddle with all relevant CORE and hospital staff involved in end-of-life care.

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Main Outcome

Recognize the critical importance of making timely referrals to start the collaborative process with CORE.

Objectives

  1. Identify clinical criteria of imminent death.
  2. Recognize the obligation of hospital staff to call in referrals within 60 minutes of meeting clinical criteria.
  3. Recognize the role of the OPO in determining preliminary donor suitability.
 

Main Outcome

Recognize the key role of huddles in communicating with hospital staff, patient families, and CORE as well as coordinating physiologic support for potential donor cases.

Objectives

  1. Recognize the physiologic indications of brain death.
  2. Recognize DCD (Donation after Cardiac Death) as an additional pathway to donation.
  3. Describe each participant’s role in the donor support huddle.
  4. Identify best practices for donor management.

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Unit 4: Donors Matter

 

Main Outcome

Recognize that recovery and allocation focus on equity and the best possible outcome for the recipient.

Objectives

  1. Distinguish between a waiting list and the donor registry.
  2. Recognize the ethical nature and scientific justifications for the allocation system.
  3. Recognize critical timeline of coordinating surgical recovery of organs and tissue.

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