A system's approach to improve organ donation

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organ Donation
• Public Health Initiatives

Background:

• The US Department of Health and Human Services National Donation Breakthrough Collaborative provided a framework for improving organ donation.
• Healthcare systems face challenges in consistently optimizing organ and tissue donation processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate strategies from the National Donation Breakthrough Collaborative within the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System (NYPHS).
• To improve organ and tissue donation consent and conversion rates across NYPHS member hospitals.

Main Methods:

• NYPHS collaborated with five donor service areas, integrating established communication networks with Breakthrough Collaborative "spread" techniques.
• Identified hospital champions and best practices, establishing standardized outcome metrics for donation.
• Utilized quarterly report cards, senior leader meetings, and a secure website to disseminate successes and metrics.

Main Results:

• Achieved a sustained 40.23% increase in consent rate.
• Observed an initial 41.7% increase in conversion rate within the first six months, though not fully sustained.
• 21 hospitals met or exceeded the 75% conversion rate benchmark in at least one quarter over 8 measured periods.

Conclusions:

• The integration of collaborative strategies and established communication networks effectively improved organ and tissue donation metrics within NYPHS.
• Sustained focus through regular reporting and leadership engagement is crucial for maintaining high donation priorities in hospitals.