Board #202 - Program Innovation Simulated Organ Donation Requests (Submission #9770)

Abstract

Objectives To use simulation to train Family Services Coordinators (FSCs) to apply best practices for organ donation requests. To recognize the value of using simulation to train Family Services Coordinators to apply best practices for organ donation requests. To identify key components of using simulation to train Family Services Coordinators to apply best practices for organ donation requests. Description Though organ transplantation is an unequaled intervention for the reversal of terminal illness, a critical shortage of donated organs exists. Misconceptions about donating organs are the primary reasons people decline. Hence, Family Services Coordinators who make donation requests must be highly competent. The purpose of our simulation education program is to promote best practices by FSCs when making organ donations requests. Our Simulation Center collaborated with the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) to plan and conduct a series of simulations. Cases are designed for registered donors and non-registered donors. Standardized participants (SPs) are trained to portray family members with common misconceptions and emotional needs. One session is designed for African-American donors, among which unique cultural misconceptions exists. FSCs engage the SPs to request organ donation. Best practices include dual advocacy, in which the FSCs advocate for the potential organ recipients as well as the donor’s family. The simulations were observed by the ARORA Manager, a debriefing expert on our simulation staff as well as other FSCs. An in-depth debriefing followed each simulation in which all of the learners and observers participated. Conclusion The simulations are well-received by ARORA and appear to have benefited both ARORA and our Medical Center. Pre- and post-simulation comparisons of the annual rates of authorization for organ donations among the FSCs demonstrate a clinically significant increase in post-simulation donation rates. In one FSC, the annual rate of donation has increased over three-fold, from 29% to 100%. The ARORA Manager attributed the simulation education as the catalyst for this FSC’s improvement. A pre- and post-simulation comparison of the annual number of transplants at our Medical Center also demonstrated a clinically significant improvement. In 2012, our Medical Center transplanted 17 livers from ARORA organ donors. In 2013, 32 livers were transplanted from ARORA organ donors. Our data suggests that one of the contributing factors associated with this increase may have been the simulation education intervention, which the ARORA Manager described as a quality and safe learning environment for the FSCs to practice and get feedback about facilitating donation conversations that are compassionate, thorough, non-anxious and value positive. Collaboration between a Simulation Center and an organ donation organization is feasible and can potentially improve performance and clinical outcomes. Disclosures None