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Emergency department organ-donation card pilot study
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital, New Jersey, USA. Ch163@medscape.com
Transplantation Proceedings
|June 24, 2009
Summary
An emergency department (ED) organ-donor enrollment program is acceptable to patients. This initiative can effectively enroll individuals who do not currently have organ-donor cards, increasing organ donation rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Transplantation Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Organ donation is critical for saving lives.
- Current organ donor cardholder rates are suboptimal.
- Emergency departments (EDs) are high-traffic areas with potential for public engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess public attitudes towards an organ-donor enrollment program based in the ED.
- To determine patient willingness to enroll in organ donation programs within an ED setting.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 211 non-acutely ill patients in an urban university hospital ED.
- Data collection occurred over six 4-hour daytime intervals.
- Patient interest, approval, current cardholder status, and willingness to enroll were assessed.
Main Results:
- 82% of patients were interested in organ donation information via the ED.
- 87% approved of the ED providing organ donation cards.
- 56% of non-cardholders expressed willingness to enroll in an ED-based program.
- 61% of African American patients not holding cards indicated willingness to enroll.
Conclusions:
- An ED-based organ donation enrollment program is feasible and well-received by patients.
- Such programs can effectively reach populations currently lacking organ donor cards.
- EDs represent a viable setting for increasing organ donor registration.
