DCD DONOR MANAGEMENT
After family has made the decision to withdraw support and allow natural death, LifeShare will offer the opportunity of donation to family. After family has either authorized for donation or has been notified of their loved one’s registry status, the patient will remain under the hospital physician’s care and the bedside nurse will remain the primary caregiver.
Family will choose when they would like to withdraw support and LifeShare will work diligently within family’s chosen timeline. Prior to withdrawal of support, a LifeShare Coordinator will work to find recipients for the gifts this patient is giving. The LifeShare Coordinator will remain on the unit and will collaborate with hospital staff to optimize
donation potential.
We understand that patient management is labor intensive, so we are always willing to assist the bedside nurse at his/her request. We are a team and it takes us all to make donation a success! You are getting the unique opportunity to care for many patients (recipients) by caring for this one patient as they go through the donation process.
Family will choose when they would like to withdraw support and LifeShare will work diligently within family’s chosen timeline. Prior to withdrawal of support, a LifeShare Coordinator will work to find recipients for the gifts this patient is giving. The LifeShare Coordinator will remain on the unit and will collaborate with hospital staff to optimize
donation potential.
We understand that patient management is labor intensive, so we are always willing to assist the bedside nurse at his/her request. We are a team and it takes us all to make donation a success! You are getting the unique opportunity to care for many patients (recipients) by caring for this one patient as they go through the donation process.
WHAT DOES WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT LOOK LIKE FOR A DCD PATIENT
Comfort care orders and medications will be entered and administered by the hospital team. LifeShare will not make recommendations regarding comfort care orders.
The pronouncing physician will be at the patient’s bedside at the time of withdrawal and will remain at bedside until it is appropriate to pronounce death. When cardiopulmonary functions have ceased, the physician will pronounce time of death. This is the official time of death.
If the patient passes within a predetermined timeframe, LifeShare will assume care of the patient. The pronouncing physician will continue to assess the patient for possible autoresuscitation of cardiopulmonary functions. After five minutes of no observation of any cardiopulmonary functions, the physician will confirm time of death.
If the patient does not expire within the predetermined timeframe, the ventilator will not be reinstated, the patient will remain under the care of the hospital until death is pronounced. Organ donation will no longer be an option. LifeShare will continue to support family as appropriate/as they request. The hospital will continue to provide comfort medications and interventions per protocol and support the family. The hospital will report cardiac time of death to LifeShare and the Medical examiner per hospital protocol. The patient could still be eligible for tissue/eye donation.
The pronouncing physician will be at the patient’s bedside at the time of withdrawal and will remain at bedside until it is appropriate to pronounce death. When cardiopulmonary functions have ceased, the physician will pronounce time of death. This is the official time of death.
If the patient passes within a predetermined timeframe, LifeShare will assume care of the patient. The pronouncing physician will continue to assess the patient for possible autoresuscitation of cardiopulmonary functions. After five minutes of no observation of any cardiopulmonary functions, the physician will confirm time of death.
If the patient does not expire within the predetermined timeframe, the ventilator will not be reinstated, the patient will remain under the care of the hospital until death is pronounced. Organ donation will no longer be an option. LifeShare will continue to support family as appropriate/as they request. The hospital will continue to provide comfort medications and interventions per protocol and support the family. The hospital will report cardiac time of death to LifeShare and the Medical examiner per hospital protocol. The patient could still be eligible for tissue/eye donation.
