Increasing organ recovery from level I trauma centers: the in-house coordinator intervention.

Purpose: Daily presence of organ procurement organization staff in level I trauma centers combined with early family contact and interaction can increase donation rates.

Methods: A successful in-house coordinator program already in place at 2 level I trauma centers in Houston was replicated in 6 other level I trauma centers in New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Organ procurement organization staff were placed inside the 8 trauma centers to provide early family support in potential donor situations and day-to-day donation system management.

Location of in-house organ procurement organization staff in level I trauma centers increases conversion of potential donors to actual donors.

Background: Of 5810 acute care hospitals in the United States, only 3.9% (231) are Level 1 Trauma Centers (L1TCs). L1TCs have a significant number of potential organ donors (PODs).

Family discussion about organ donation among African Americans.

Context: Relatively little is known about family discussion concerning donation among African Americans in the United States, especially discussion predating the brain death of a family member and the donor request process.

Objectives: To explore the inclination of African Americans to engage in family discussion about organ donation and the characteristics of those who expressed a desire to their families to donate their organs upon death.

Design: Focus groups and a cross-sectional survey.