Maximizing Utilization of the Potential Deceased Donor: The Challenge Continues

Abstract

As organ transplantation has become a successful treatment for patients with end-stage organ disease, the number of patients waiting for transplantation has increased exponentially over the last three decades. The single most significant barrier to match the number of organ transplantation procedures to the number of patients waiting for this lifesaving treatment is the shortage of organ donors. By the end of 2008, 100,597 patients were waiting for organ transplantation, while only 27,281 transplant procedures were performed during that year. There are two critical stages in the organ donation process that have a direct effect on the actual number of organ donors: identification of the potential donor and the consent for donation. “Hospital Ownership” principles aim to address the process of donor identification and the initiation of the donation process. Healthcare professional education is key to the success of the “Hospital Ownership” concept. Public education is essential for increasing consent for organ donation and impacts the number of people registered as “designated donors” as well as the willingness of the deceased donor’s family to grant consent for donation. Several initiatives over the last decade by local, state, and federal organizations have resulted in an increase in the number of deceased organ donors in the USA, with a peak of 8,085 in 2007 compared to 5,824 in 1999. Since 2007, the number of deceased donors has reached a plateau; maintaining a high level of awareness in the minds of healthcare professionals, government officials, and the public to the acute shortage of organs is essential and requires the sustained, combined effort of all parties involved to ultimately ease the burden caused by the organ shortage.