This time line shows the many steps required to recover tissue for helping and healing.
11:47am
IOPO receives a referral call from a hospital in Southern Indiana. The patient is a 51-year-old male who suffered an acute asthma attack. EMS restored breathing and a heartbeat but the patient died a short time after arriving at the hospital. This patient will not be a candidate for organ donation but is a possible tissue donor.
11:55am
An IOPO Clinical Services Coordinator completes a brief questionnaire with a nurse at the hospital. Clinical information about the patient’s condition, medications and treatments and medical history are all important in determining if the patient’s tissue is suitable for donation. The IOPO coordinator checks and finds that the patient declared his wish to be a donor on his Indiana Driver License.
1:42pm
The family left the hospital shortly after the patient passed away, so an IOPO coordinator calls them to discuss tissue donation. They don’t answer so a coordinator will call again. IOPO coordinators are very sensitive to the emotions surrounding any loss, but sudden, unexpected loss is often more painful. Still, our experience shows that even during times of great stress and heartache, most families are willing to consider donation. Knowing their loved one’s tissue can help save and heal others can be a comfort for families. The opportunity to help fulfill a loved one’s last wish brings a sense of purpose to the death.
