Organ Donation Crisis

New Strategies to Meet Growing Need for Organ Donations

Story Summary:

The epidemic rise of obesity, hypertension and diabetes in this country is leading to an increased need for organ transplants. Ethnic and racial minority populations are the hardest hit. While they represent 25% of the U.S. population, ethnic and racial groups make up 50% of the people waiting for kidney transplants. This is a result of their predisposition for these diseases.

Now, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has released these specific recommendations to bring more donors and recipients together:

• Make organ donation a priority throughout hospitals by strengthening staff education and encouraging the use of best practices to increase donation.
• Address cultural and ethnic disparities in the transplantation process.
• Promote the expansion of donor registries and the enforcement of "donor designation" laws that protect donor intentions.
• Expand and support health promotion programs aimed at preventing organ failure In all, 85,000 Americans are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. Ethnic and racial minority patients wait twice as long as Caucasians, which is approximately 5-10 years. Each year, the wait list for organs grows by 19% and 6,000 patients die every year while waiting.

Soundbites

• Dennis S. O'Leary, MD, President, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Clive O. Callender, MD, FACS, Chairman, Department of Surgery, Howard University Hospital Fred Brown, Chairman, National Kidney Foundation Gerald Bowen, His wife is waiting for a kidney transplant

B-Roll Includes

• Dr. and patient exam *** Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization's white paper cover*** Dr. O'Leary office b-roll*** Gerald and Bessie Bowen lifestyle b-roll

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: "Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations"