Summary: the quality improvement program in organ donation of the Tuscany region

Since October 2002, after a pilot period, a quality improvement program in organ donation has been underway in Tuscany. This program is based on a database elaborated by the Transplant Coordination Office of the Pisa University, according to the Spanish program of the National Transplant Organization. All encephalic deaths occurring in intensive care units beds during mechanical ventilation are registered in the database. Encephalic deaths were evaluated by local transplant coordinators and an esthesiologists after review of the clinical records. The data are sent every month to the Central Unit located in the Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa. Every 3 and 12 months, we calculate the indices to evaluate organ donation activity in every hospital. The preliminary results show that: (1) the program is a useful tool to evaluate the organ donation process; (2) the experience is limited, but has shown the potential of the program to increase organ donation activity in Tuscany.