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Agency Honors South Mississippi Hospital System for Obtaining Organ Donations

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 12:01 CDT

Aug. 7--PASCAGOULA -- The Singing River Hospital System is a beacon of success when it comes to obtaining consent for organ donations, according to a federal agency that recognized the system.

The hospital system is one of 184 medical institutions nationwide that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave a medal of honor for obtaining donations from 75 percent or more of potential donors in 2004. The national average was 56 percent.

Lynn Truelove, administrator of Singing River Hospital, said, "Singing River Hospital is very committed to supporting organ donation, as it is the ultimate gift of life. Our hospital and MORA (Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency) have a good working relationship in striving for the betterment of this worthwhile service."

The hospital system works closely with the procurement agency, according to Susan Russell, nurse manager of the neuro and surgical intensive care units.

"The hospital has an organizational culture of supporting organ donors," she said. "We have a great relationship with MORA. They make requests for donations to the families, usually through a registered nurse."

Russell, who is trained to make requests for MORA, says the state as a whole has a long way to go but there are pockets of success such as the Singing River System.

"We're excited to be recognized and thrilled to be moving in this direction," she said. "We're not new to this and are hitting our stride."

She says another reason for the hospital's success is that they try to educate the community about organ donations through presentations and material in waiting rooms. Also, the trauma and intensive care staffs are well trained to deal with injuries.

"We're fortunate to have such a dedicated staff of neuro specialists. They are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The more you do it, you get to be very good," she said. "Even though we're not the largest city on the Coast, we get patients from all over the Coast because of this staff."

When patients are pronounced brain dead, their families are given information about organ donations. Russell said two physicians run a battery of tests to make this determination.

After that determination is made, MORA is notified and sends a trained person to speak with the patient's family.

"Most patients' families have never had to experience brain death and we try to educate them about it," Russell said. "It's very hard to explain and ask for organs. We try to be supportive and answer questions."

She said that no matter how good the staff and MORA's representatives are, it's up to the family to make the decision.

The staff at Singing River continues to support the family throughout the process. They also keep track of them with follow-up. In April, a Tree of Life Ceremony was held to recognize patients and their families who donated organs. The event is held annually and sometimes patients who are alive because of organ donations are present to meet the families.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

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Source: The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

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