Unit 1: Summary and Quiz

Joint Accountability
Hospital and OPO staff are jointly accountable for meeting federal regulations regarding organ and tissue donation.

Four Core Functions of OPOs
OPOs serve four core functions: Clinical services, hospital development, donor family services, and public education.

Federal Regulations
The responsibilities of hospitals and OPOs are based on Federal law and CMS Conditions of Participation. The legal and regulatory framework establishes rules for organ and tissue donation, procurement, and allocation. 

Best Practices
Best practices include: timely referral of patients who die or are at risk of imminent death; decoupling the clinical care team from the organ donation request; and integrating OPO personnel into the end of life care team. 

The Huddle
The huddle is brief stand-up meeting between hospital and OPO staff involved in end-of-life care for a potential donor. The purpose of the huddle is to coordinate the plan of action with respect to the patient and the patient’s family or other caretakers.

The Importance of Tissue Donation
OPOs help to facilitate the donation of corneas and tissues for transplantation. Many routine surgeries require cadaver tissue, including bone, tendon, ligaments, skin, and heart valves.

The Role of Hospital Staff
Hospital staff play an important role in the donation process by collaborating with the OPO to assess donation opportunities for all patients and as a routine part of end-of-life care.


Unit 1 Quiz: Collaborative Relationships


 

Next Unit Introduction

The next unit demonstrates the importance of making donor referrals in a timely way.