Asystolic Donation Protocols Assure Support
For Heidi Smith, a nurse educator on 9D, the letters she receives following her participation as a Neurosciences staff nurse in BWH organ harvests reaffirm her positive attitude towards this difficult and demanding procedure.
“These letters from the New England Organ Bank detail how one person passing away is giving the gift of life potentially to save several others,” said Smith, who participated in the first asystolic organ harvest at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
BWH implemented a policy and protocols around asystolic organ donation, or organ donation after cardiac death (DCD), to provide support to patients and their families.
Neurology doctors and nurses screen potential donors following the policy and protocols. The New England Organ Bank is alerted and makes the final determination of potential donors and a NEOB representative approaches the patient's family, said Galen Henderson, MD, director of Neuro-critical Care and Emergency Neurology and chair of BWH's Organ Donation Committee.
“We need to make sure every patient who has the potential to donate organs and tissue is given the opportunity to do so with all our support,” Henderson said.
BWH's Chaplaincy Office and Care Coordination are involved as support for both the patient and hospital staff.
“It can be exceptionally difficult for nurses, but we have to remember, this is about the gift of life and saving others,” said Barbara DiTullio, RN, OR assistant nurse manager.
One year after BWH's first asystolic organ donation, Smith saw a member of the donor's family. “The whole family appreciated the kindness and professionalism the staff showed throughout their whole experience at BWH,” said Smith.