Organ procurement: the role of the transplant coordinator

The role of the Transplant Co-ordinator was first established in the United States of America in the early 1960s. For the first time an individual was appointed with a full-time commitment to increasing the number of donor organs made available for transplantation. Simultaneous with the appointment of transplant coordinators was the development of Organ Procurement Agencies (OPAs). The initial function of the OPAs was to assist with the movement of donor kidneys that could not be transplanted in the region of removal. The role of the coordinator has developed in two areas, education and organisation of the donor and recipient procedures, and has become crucial with the increase of multiple organ donation. The OPAs have become national data bases and along with the transplant coordinators have developed strong international links in the effort to increase organ donation and to avoid wastage of this precious resource.