The Role of the Respiratory Therapist in Organ Donation The ...

Hospitals
Conditions of Participation
1. Refer all deaths to the
OPO. Referral must be
“timely” and
“imminent.”
2. Hospitals must
participate with their
approved OPO in
Medical Reviews.
3. Only staff trained or
employed by an OPO
may offer families the
options of donation
4. All request for donation
must be a collaborative
effort between OPO and
hospital.
5. Develop cooperative
relationships with eye
and tissue banks.
6. The OPO must
determine donor
suitability.
Current Clinical Triggers:
When to Refer
Imminent Death Referrals
Regardless of age, diagnosis, cause of death, sedation or religious beliefs
call on all vented patients
within 1 hour of meeting any of the following clinical triggers:
• Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 5 or less
• Absence of 2 or more of the following reflexes:
Cough Reflex
Gag Reflex
Pupillary response to light Corneal Reflex
Response to Pain
Loss of Respirations
• Call when contemplating discussions of the following:
Before withdrawal of life support, making End of Life Decisions -
while organs for transplant are still viable
How the staff sees us:
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