Organizational Characteristics of Solid-Organ Donor Hospitals and Nondonor Hospitals

Journal of Transplant Coordination, Vol. 9, Number 2, June 1999 for all types of cadaveric organs included more than 53 000 registrations.1 The possibility of cadaveric organ donation exists among only a small percentage of deaths. Therefore, there is considerable effort to continue to identify and approach all potential donors and their families, and to maximize the likelihood of consent and successful procurement as well as the optimal use of the organs donated. Although only a small number of those who die are deemed medically suitable to become cadaveric donors, substantial evidence shows that the pool of potential donors is larger than the number of donations made. Research consistently shows that only 30% to 50% of eligible deaths result in donation.2,3 Organizational characteristics of solid-organ donor hospitals and nondonor hospitals