1. Strategies for Improving Organ Donation
Catherine Stephens MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CNRN, SCRN
Associate Director of Nursing
Upstate Medical University

2. Upstate Medical University
Academic Medical Center located in Syracuse
Downtown Campus – 425 beds
Community Campus – 306 beds

3. Downtown Main Campus Level 1 Trauma Center – 17 counties
Level 1 DNV certified Comprehensive Stroke Center – 17 counties
Clark Burn Center – 17 counties
Poison Control Center – 54 counties
Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital
Cancer Center

4. Organ Donation at Upstate
2007 – Identified need for a cohesive approach to Organ Donation and a strong council to lead this
Linda McAleer Director Golisano
Children’s Hospital
Bill Sainsbury RN FLDRN

5. Challenges New OPO leadership Lack of knowledge regarding donation and
Fledgling council
New OPO leadership
Lack of knowledge regarding donation and
perhaps biases against
Lack of support from physician groups & staff
Lack of physician champion
Inconsistencies in policy
Lack of consistent data reporting
Computer Order Entry

6. Goals/Strategies - Building Infrastructure
Council structure and meetings – consistent data to review by unit
Subcommittees focused on DCD, creation of a Clinician Guide, CPOE
Education at every council meeting
Lunch provided!
Policies/procedures creation and revision
Identification of Administrator and Physician champion – vital step

7. Strategy - Building Infrastructure
Development of education and information needed for all staff
Referral process
Brain Death Criteria
DCD
Designated Requestor
After Action Reviews at Council and in units
Donor Collaboration Meeting area hospitals

8. Continued growth
Identification and education of clinical triggers to increase referrals
Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria education and certification for physicians
Continued education for critical care & ED nursing
Unit based education and follow up
Public awareness campaigns and celebration of donation – registration campaigns
Independent order entry for OPO staff – this was done twice!

9. Donor Totals

10. Traditional Donors

11. DCD Totals by Year

12. Organ Donation Council – both campuses
Co-chairs – Administrator and Physician
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
Central New York Eye and Tissue Bank
Rome Memorial Hospital
Clinical Education
Admitting/Registration
Transplant Recipients
Transplant Program
Department of Bioethics
Nursing Staff and Managers
EDs – pediatric and adult
Pediatric ICU
Neuroscience ICU and Intermediate Care Units
MICUs, SICU, CPICU, Burn ICU, Community Campus ICU
ORs – Adult and Pediatric
from our 8 ICUs, Pediatric and Adult EDs, DT ORs, Medicine and Surgical Units
Palliative Care
Spiritual Care
Interested staff throughout both campuses
Affiliated with St. Joseph’s Hospital Organ Donation Council

13. Partnerships
Upstate Medical University Donor Council and the Donor Councils at St. Joseph’s, and Rome Memorial Hospital, Upstate Advocates, Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation and CNY Eye and Tissue Bank
The purpose of this partnership was to increase Onondaga County’s enrollment percentages in the donor registry through a campaign of public awareness of the importance of organ donation and how to become a registered donor.

14. Community Outreach Activities
Donate Life Baseball Game
Great New York State Fair
Hockey Games with the Crunch
Health Link Events/Lectures
Lobbying Efforts in Albany
Donor Appreciation Luncheon
Rose Event – held at St Joseph’s
Donate Life Month Events in April
Donate Life Celebration with Press Conference
Flags placed in businesses around Syracuse and Rome
Radio PSAs

15. NY state 2016 donor registration rates: National average = 54%
New York State Average = 28.3%
Onondaga County = 37.6%

16. Onondaga County Registration Percentage by Year

18. Goals/Strategies for 2018 Increasing potential for DCD donations
Increasing our post-extubation time for declaration of death from 60 minutes to 90 minutes.
Adding an additional 10 minutes based on team decision
Decreasing our untimely notifications –
partnering with St Joseph’s
Reinvigorating clinical trigger information

19. Goals/Strategies for 2018 3. Increasing potential for tissue donations
Secondary Tissue Agency
4. Formalizing Sub-Committees
Policy/Procedure, Process Improvement, Education, Outreach Events
5. Streamlining donor management practices
6. Celebration of donation in real time
7. Succession planning

20. Thank you
R. Scott Stephens Craig D Stephens