MTS Phone Consent Program for Tissue Donation

Tissue recipient, Carol, is now able to clearly see the faces of her daughters after receiving a double-cornea transplant

Begun in 2006, the MTS Phone Consent Program enables staff in area hospitals to connect potential donor families by phone with an MTS triage coordinator to provide the family with an informed, compassionate opportunity to donate.  With specialized training, compassion, and skill, and with the assistance of our hospital partners, MTS triage coordinators have succeeded in moving tissue consent rates from 12% in 2005 to 57% in 2010.  These amazing numbers translate into thousands more people being healed of debilitating ailments as a result of our partnership and through the gift of tissue donation. Training materials for the phone consent program are available in the Resource Library.

Other benefits of this program are:

• Alleviates the stress for hospital staff that can come with approaching families for tissue donation consent after doing everything possible to help their loved one survive.
• MTS triage coordinator will screen for donation eligibility – demographics, infectious status, PMH, current medical status, and COD.  If the patient is not eligible for donation, there is no need for the family to speak to MTS. Learn about the Importance of Pre-screening.
• MTS can speak to family at the hospital with the help of the hospital staff or call the family directly at home.  We just need you to find a private room for the family to take our call.
• If family consents to donation, the MTS coordinator will complete consent form and proceed directly to the medical social history with the family.
• Legal risks reduced for participating hospitals.

Your role in making the Phone Consent Program a success in your hospital:

• Report all deaths to MTS, as required by CMS
• Provide MTS with available medical history for potential donor
• Arrange for family to speak to MTS staff on the phone

MTS believes that every family and individual should be given the option to donate their organs and tissues, and thereby pass on the Gift of Life to others in need. The care and support of the donor family is our number one priority and we do everything possible to make sure that they are able to make an informed decision that is right for their family.

If you are interested in learning more about the Phone Consent Program for your hospital, please contact your Donor Program Development (DPD) Specialist or visit the Ask Your Coordinator page of this section to determine who the DPD specialist for your hospital is and then pursue contact by phone or email.

Together we can change lives!