Page 25 - Layout 1
P. 25
FEATURE:
TOSA CHIEF RETIRES
donors we needed within very short time frames for compliance. If The patients on the waiting list are the ultimate beneficiary of
these metrics were not met within the time frames required, we this gift and we are working 24/7 to see that every potential donor
would have been closed down by the federal government. As a result, opportunity results in donation. We never, ever stop and we want
not many in Texas or in the field at large thought we had any pos- to see them out of the hospital, healthy and with their families and
sible chance for survival. So, as you can imagine, correctly defining living their lives. Life is time and we want to play our part in ex-
problems, relatively fast decision making, acquiring resources and tending their time here.
recruiting the right people had to be achieved relatively quickly. This
all had to be done in a way to enable us to implement needed What would you say to those who are pondering
changes in time to impact our results. the decision to register as an organ, eye and
tissue donor?
What, in your tenure, has been the organization’s
greatest success? It is as easy as ever to register with the Donate Life Texas donor
registry. So please do register. In the event you are in a position
Watching the organization’s progress in working with hospitals to to donate, you have done a great service to your family by clari-
make donation a normal part of the continuum of care. The key fying your wishes with them during a difficult time, and you will
part of this was developing protocols and processes to assure that save lives.
potential donor cases are evaluated in a timely and appropriate man-
ner. As a result of that success and with the excellent clinical and What are the biggest challenges OPOs face
leadership staff we have assembled at TOSA, this allowed us to im- moving forward and what advice would you
prove more processes and eventually become regarded as one of the give them?
most productive organizations of our kind in the nation. Many of
our practices, how we developed our internal culture, the way we There really isn’t enough to room to cover it all in this article, but
use metrics, and our quality improvement processes are shared in suffice it to say, and this goes not just for OPOs, but all healthcare
the field and have been cited by national organizations. The bottom organizations: don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo, innovate,
line is more organs for more patients on the transplant waiting list. hire the best people you can and most importantly treat them with
respect. I cannot overemphasize the critical need for healthcare lead-
how has working with donor families and recipi- ership to create and sustain a truly respectful working environment.
ent volunteers affected or influenced your work? In addition, organizations consist of people and people have to keep
learning and changing and adapting and then the organization,
They are a blessing beyond description, and we could not do through this internal culture, will keep operating under the ideals
what we do without them. The emotions and life-changing nature we value and will attain the goals to which we dedicate our work.
of losing a loved one and then knowing they saved someone’s life OPOs also need to remember that we and the transplant community
is an incredible life circumstance. Many people may want to move are a subset of a larger, more encompassing health care delivery sys-
on after the death of a loved one, which is certainly understand- tem. We need to be cognizant of where we fit in and how well people
able, but these donor families want to stay involved through the in healthcare and out in the community, really understand what we
gift of life their loved one gave. They want to celebrate the life do. The communication burden is on us and the more we are com-
which was enabled through the life of their loved one. Together, municating and garnering greater understanding, the more support
with the special and lasting gratitude of organ recipients, the vol- we will see and therefore more donation will happen.
unteers have stories of commitment, survival, and the impact of
that gift which are truly inspiring. It has truly been a privilege to be part of this great organization
and its cause and mission over the past nearly 20 years. I look for-
What message do you have for TOSA donor fami- ward to following TOSA’s continued success and many contribu-
lies and to the patients on the transplant waiting tions to the health of our community and beyond.
list in Central & South Texas?
The Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA) is one of only 58
That they are the reason why TOSA is here and why the people non-profit 501(c)(3), independent, federally-designated Organ
who work at TOSA are so committed to providing the best family Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the United States dedi-
care possible during such a difficult time for the donor families. We cated to educating and providing organ donation and recovery
are eternally grateful for their support of their loved one’s gift of life services to families wishing to donate and to those waiting for a
of organ donation. life-saving organ transplant.
visit us at www.bcms.org 25
