The Transplantation of Human Organs Act mandates that hospitals who undertake organ transplant have a designated transplant coordinator but is quite silent on what role that individual is required to play in the transplant process.
The person appointed as transplant coordinator should be either a registered nurse, a medical graduate or a social worker who has been preferably trained in transplant coordination. Some universities and foundations run such accredited courses in India. However few working coordinators have such training in practice.The transplant coordinator usually ends up being reduced to a secretary, business manager or propaganda specialist. Without training even medical doctors are unable to understand the intricacies of the transplant process so their coordination is symbolic at best.
The transplant coordinator should act as the advisor, counsellor, friend and confidante of the patient and the family. Ideally the coordinator should facilitate the preparation, logistics of the operation and ensure smooth transition from hospital and domiciliary care. Listing and prioritisation of patient on the list for a cadaveric transplant is also the role of the coordinator. The coordinator should liase with the organ distribution network and help in selection of the deceased donor in conjunction with the retrieval team and hospital. The coordinator should frequently be available to update the family and answer any questions.Once discharged the coordinator should maintain records of the status of the patient, schedule follow up visits and ensure compliance with medication, investigation and rehabilitation. To sum up the coordinator should be the bridge between the patient and the transplant physicians and surgeons. Doing all this is no mean feat.
The person appointed as transplant coordinator should be either a registered nurse, a medical graduate or a social worker who has been preferably trained in transplant coordination. Some universities and foundations run such accredited courses in India. However few working coordinators have such training in practice.The transplant coordinator usually ends up being reduced to a secretary, business manager or propaganda specialist. Without training even medical doctors are unable to understand the intricacies of the transplant process so their coordination is symbolic at best.
The transplant coordinator should act as the advisor, counsellor, friend and confidante of the patient and the family. Ideally the coordinator should facilitate the preparation, logistics of the operation and ensure smooth transition from hospital and domiciliary care. Listing and prioritisation of patient on the list for a cadaveric transplant is also the role of the coordinator. The coordinator should liase with the organ distribution network and help in selection of the deceased donor in conjunction with the retrieval team and hospital. The coordinator should frequently be available to update the family and answer any questions.Once discharged the coordinator should maintain records of the status of the patient, schedule follow up visits and ensure compliance with medication, investigation and rehabilitation. To sum up the coordinator should be the bridge between the patient and the transplant physicians and surgeons. Doing all this is no mean feat.
2 comments:
Unfortunately such a system does not exist. Its time cadaver donation rate picks up and the co-ordinator post is given its due.
If such systems do not exist it is because nobody wants to create them.Keeping the waters murky makes more economic sense.
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