SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION: Updates About DCD, “Donation After Circulatory Death”
In the past, DCD was the acronym for Donation After Cardiac Death. Now, DCD stands for Donation after Circulatory Death. Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network wants to ensure that our hospital partners are up-to-date with the new DCD guidelines.
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Earlier this year, the Organ Procurement Transplant Network (a division of HRSA) instituted some changes to policy language with regards to the organ donation process known as “DCD.”
Of greatest significance is that in the past, DCD was the acronym for Donation After Cardiac Death. Now, DCD stands for Donation after Circulatory Death.
The objectives of the revisions were to change cardiac death to circulatory death, due to previous recovery and successful transplantation of two pediatric hearts; more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the OPO and hospital staff; and to provide language to address DCD cases in the neurologically intact patient (ex. high cervical spine injury).
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network wants to ensure that our hospital partners are up-to-date with the new DCD guidelines. We are pleased to offer a variety of services as described here, so that hospitals remain compliant.
QUICK LINKS FOR THIS PAGE
Snapshot of the Policy Changes to “DCD” – Plus a Helpful Refresher
Contact Us for More Information About DCD
Webinars
- FLDRN will provide hospital liaisons a 30 minute webinar explaining the changes to DCD.
- Each webinar will be followed by a question/answer session.
- The same webinar will be offered two times to accommodate busy schedules: Friday May 9, 2014 at 8 a.m. and Tuesday May 13 at 2 p.m.
- We encourage our liaisons to participate in one of these webinars as it will provide a step-by-step guide to complying with the changes.
- Within the next week, a “Go-To Meeting” invitation will be e-mailed directly to liaisons with the log-on information for the webinars.
Back to the top Hospital Development staff from Finger Lakes Donor Recovery will work individually with our hospital partners to identify the specific updates needed within the hospital’s current DCD policy and provide the necessary changes to conform to the new guidelines. Back to the top 1. The biggest change to the policy is language. DCD is now known as Donation after Circulatory Death. It was previously known as Donation after Cardiac Death. 2. Definition of Donation After Circulatory Death: Describes the organ recovery process that occurs following death by irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory function. 3. Definition of Potential DCD Donors: a. Current language dictates there are specific guidelines in regards to persons who can be candidates for DCD. b. New language states that the primary healthcare team and the OPO must work together to evaluate potential DCD donors to determine if the patient meets criteria. 4. Authorization for DCD Donors: a. The OPO must now confirm that the healthcare team has assessed the patient’s competency/capacity to make decisions regarding their health care support. Note: This covers first person authorization for DCD donation for patients who have competency to make such decisions. Conditions involving a potential DCD donor being medically treated/supported in a conscious mental state shall require that FLDRN confirms that the healthcare team has assessed the patient’s mental competency and capacity to make withdrawal of support and other medical decisions. b. Additionally, the hospital must obtain consent from the authorized party for any DCD related procedures (bronchoscopy, arterial line, central line, etc.) and drug administration, as well as provide information regarding the purposes of the procedures and drugs. 5. During the Withdrawal of Life Support Process: New language states that the OPO is required to conduct a timeout to confirm: a. Patient identification b. Process for withdrawal of ventilator/life support c. Roles and responsibilities of: 1. The patient primary care team 11. The OPO team 111. Organ recovery team d. Hospital’s plan if the patient does not expire within 60 minutes. We invite you to contact FLDRN’s hospital development associates, Nancy Ryan and Rebecca Milczarski. Rochester Office: Email Nancy Ryan (NancyJ_Ryan Syracuse Office: Email Rebecca Milczarski (rebecca_milczarski [autonav display=”list,thumb,excerpt” orderby=”menu_order”]
Hospital Policy Reviews
Snapshot of the Policy Changes to “DCD” – Plus a Helpful Refresher
Contact Us for More Information About DCD
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