Page 28 - Layout 1
P. 28
NON PROFIT
40 Years of Saving Lives
in Central & South Texas
Starting with seven physicians in “We’re adapting to telemedicine and the Internet and it gives us
1975 who had a vision, to using the capability of sending images and video at any time of day. We are
telecommunication to asses a po- being more efficient and make more offers in a short amount of
tential donor in 2015, at Texas time,” explained Joseph Nespral, TOSA’s senior director of clinical
Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), services. “That would have been impossible a few years ago. Back
formally South Texas Organ bank, then it was one call at a time.”
the goal has always been the same:
optimize the opportunity to save Likewise, medical technology has made the process of managing
lives through organ donation. donors much smoother. Additional and more precise testing has al-
lowed for a clear understanding of organ function and has aided in
In TOSA’s 40 years, the most identifying any potential transmittable diseases.
dramatic and palpable ways to see
how donation has changed is how “Years ago it was a race to get to the OR,” said Nespral, an 18-year
technology has become vital to veteran with TOSA. “Now we can take a deep breath and stabilize
saving lives. the donor to place organs.”
28 San Antonio Medicine • April 2016 Mike Rosson, a former regional director for TOSA’s Austin office
whose experience spans to the first donor in El Paso in 1973, said
TOSA’s hospital development staff have made great strides in earning
the trust of hospital staff to allow TOSA to fulfill its mission. Hospital
development staff are tasked with educating nurses about the need
for cooperation in the donation process.
“We show up when we said we will and the families will be treated
well,” said Rosson. “We gained their confidence – that’s a big deal.”
Along with educating hospital staff, public education has normal-
ized the donation conversation.
