AST is pleased to share the following information on the upcoming Organ Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative. The first collaborative aimed at increasing organ donation has been a great success, with a 10.8% increase in organ donation in the U.S. in 2004 over 2003, and another 9.5% increase for the first 5 months of 2005 over the same interval last year. Please review this information and work with your local Organ Procurement Organization to maximize this unique opportunity to increase organ transplantation nationwide. A memorandum from Dr. James Burdick, Director of the Division of Transplantation at HRSA, is pasted below.
Richard Fine, MD
President, AST
| To: | AST Membership |
| From: | James Burdick
M.D. Director, Division of Transplantation Health Resources Service Administration |
| Re: | Organ Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative |
| Date: | June 17, 2005 |
Over the past 20 months, concurrent with the national implementation of the HHS/HRSA Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, the number of deceased organ donors nationwide has increased dramatically, and this upward trend continues. There was a 10.8% increase in U.S. organ donors in 2004 over 2003, and for the first five months of 2005, the number of donors is 9.5% higher than the same interval in 2004.
Building on this unprecedented growth in organ donation, we are launching a new initiative, the Organ Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative, focused on increasing organ utilization. Specifically, the aim of this collaborative is to increase the mean number of recipients transplanted per donor from 3.06 (2004 U.S. mean) to 3.75 or higher. We know this can be achieved. In fact, one large donation service area has achieved a rate of over 3.75 in 2004, continuing into 2005 to date, through diligent efforts on the part of all stakeholders to fundamentally change the way they work together. And we know how to make improvements and achieve results – fast – by active collaboration towards a shared goal and systematic application of the proven Model for Improvement developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Success in this initiative is wholly dependent on the active participation of three estates: Transplant Programs, Donor Hospitals, and Organ Procurement Organizations. The attached application materials have been sent to the leadership of all OPOs. The OPO will serve as the nucleus for team formation. Well-balanced and highly committed teams will be assembled to participate in this program, starting with a National Learning Session to be held in October 2005. Team composition will vary but all will include selected leadership and front-line staff from each of the three estates.
I strongly encourage you and your colleagues to actively engage with your OPO and fully leverage this unique opportunity to increase transplantation in your donation service area and nationwide. The synergy between these two national initiatives presents the possibility of increasing the number or organ transplants in the U.S. nearly twofold. Please take a few minutes to review the application materials, and commit to teaming with your OPO and donor hospital colleagues on this very promising Organ Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative.
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