Development of a Tele-ICU serving multiple institutions within our donor service area stimulated a collaborative performance improvement project. To improve the referral and timeliness rates for patients meeting clinical triggers as potential organ donors, the responsibility for notification of the organ procurement organization (OPO) was reassigned from the bedside critical care team to the remotely located Tele-ICU team.

A two month blinded study with 1 hospital site was conducted. Actual referrals were still made by the on-site team while the Tele-ICU staff also practiced making referrals. Tele-ICU staff successfully identified all patients for whom actual referrals were made. The Tele-ICU team identified potential referrals which were not made by their on-site colleagues.

Implementation of the new referral process at 4 hospitals has led to an increase in the number of referrals, an increase in timeliness and an increase in donation.

Interviews with hospital staff and OPO coordinators reveal markedly improved satisfaction. Additionally, bedside staff report significant time savings. These encouraging results are embraced by leaders at these hospitals and the OPO. Continued expansion of this strategy is planned.

CITATION INFORMATION: Groveman M., Perry M., Berman I., Benavides N., Friedman A. Improving the Organ Donation Referral Process through Telemedicine Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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