EP 101: Heartfelt Care: Dr Bonomo Explains The Vision For A Holistic Donor Care Unit Within The New UCMC ICU

Welcome to today’s episode of This Thing Called Life, where we delve into the ever-evolving care plan of organ, eye, and tissue donation. In this episode, we’re joined by Andi Johnson and Dr. Jordan Bonomo to explore a key recommendation from the 2021 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report aimed at transforming organ donation and transplantation practices to create a more equitable system. Dr. Bonomo shares insights into a groundbreaking initiative—the establishment of a donor care unit within UCMC’s new Flex ICU. This innovative, first-of-its-kind model is designed to improve organ donation outcomes by providing comprehensive, compassionate care to both donors and their families. Tune in for this important conversation on enhancing the donor experience and advancing the future of organ donation.

 

Episode Highlights:

1. Introducing Dr. Jordan Bonomo. He is a physician at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He's the Medical Director of the flex ICU and a professor of Emergency Medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, and neurocritical care. He is also the attending physician for anesthesia, critical care, and ECMO, and he's the medical director for donor management, for Network For Hope, formerly Life Center. 
2. Dr. Bonomo explains the long-term development of the Flex ICU, emphasizing its multifaceted purpose to serve critically ill patients and enhance organ donation capacity.
3. The Flex ICU aims to provide specialized care for organ donors, improving the yield and survival rate of donated organs.
4. Specialized units can focus on the needs of the donor from a physiological standpoint and the needs of the family from an emotional standpoint. This aims to provide a much more synchronized environment and holistic care for the families and adhere to the donor wishes.
5. All the staff are fully trained and they're vetted and vested at the same time in the process of donation.  The purpose is to have the best donor care unit available anywhere in the country.
6. The unit is staffed 24/7 by dedicated teams to support the mission of Network for Hope.
7. The unit is limited to donors who have been declared dead by neurologic criteria. Note that in the month of October, the first month of the launch of Flex ICU, there were zero patients declared brain dead in the region.
8. Dr. Bonomo explains the intentional design of the unit to accommodate donor families, offering them the option to be with their loved ones or to step back as needed.
9. The Flex ICU aims to respect the wishes of donors and families, facilitating their involvement in the donation process.
10. Dr. Bonomo discusses the potential impact of the Flex ICU on organ donation
11. The goal is to optimize the process for donors, families, and organ recipients, balancing the need for timely transplantation with the potential for increased donation.
12. Andi adds that the DCU, which is housed within the flex ICU, has been discussed as a key part of the flex ICU with providers, nurses, and physicians who will be working in this unit.
13. The team is committed to doing right by donors, recognizing the privilege and obligation that comes with their role.
14. The Flex ICU has attracted dedicated professionals who are passionate about improving organ donation and transplantation.
15. The process of establishing the unit has been lengthy, involving multiple stakeholders and legal considerations.
16.  He shares that this is an organ procurement o