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Transplant
recoveries now
above U.S. norm

Hawaii's organ recovery rate
is at an 'admirable pace,' with
more than 70 lives saved in '99

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

For the first time in 12 years, Hawaii's organ recovery rate for transplants ranked above the national average last year.

The Organ Donor Center of Hawaii's recovery rate (per million population) ranked 28 out of 60 donor centers nationwide. Just two years ago, the 12-year-old Hawaii program's overall recovery rate was only one step from being the worst in the country. It was 59, just above Puerto Rico/Southwest Florida.

In kidney recoveries per million, the Hawaii center moved from 59 in 1998 to 18 last year.

The rankings are done by the Association for Organ Procurement Organizations, which tracks data at all the centers and reports their performance to the government.

Results of the 1999 Performance Data Report "would not be possible without the support of the community," said Robyn Kaufman, executive director of the Hawaii center. "More people in Hawaii are choosing organ donation than ever before, giving life-saving transplants to more than 70 people last year."

Still, there is a huge shortage of organs available for transplant, she said, stressing the importance of education about organ donations.

"Last year, 16 Hawaii residents died -- more than one person a month -- while waiting for a transplant," said Christine Bogee, community education coordinator at the center.

Christopher Carroll, the center's clinical supervisor, said 10 families have donated organs so far this year. Eight donations occurred in the first eight weeks of the year -- one per week, he said. "We were really excited. That is a very admirable pace, but it tends to occur in an erratic fashion."

If donations continue at the present rate, he said, "I think we'll see another significant increase this year."

Carroll attributes the higher recovery rates last year to more public education and better working relationships with the hospitals. "There was a significant increase in timely referrals of patients so we could offer families the option of donation," he said.

"We're truly partnering with hospitals so they see a donation does not compound a family's grief, that offering a donation is not bad or something they have to do ... but something that will help carry out their own mission to help save lives."

Carroll said formation of a Hawaii Organ Donor Coalition last year resulted in increased public education and support.

The nonprofit group includes the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Lions Eye Bank and Makana Foundation, Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, Transplant Association of Hawaii and related organizations.

The National Coalition on Donation this week began a National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness campaign.

Bogee urged people to express their wish to be an organ donor on their drivers license and, more important, to discuss it with their family. One of the obstacles to organ donation is that family members often must make the decision without knowing the desire of their loved one.