By Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM
Every April, healthcare professionals, transplant recipients, donor families, and advocates across the country come together to recognize National Donate Life Month. Established by Donate Life America in 2003, this month-long observance highlights the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation while celebrating the lives saved through transplantation. As professional case managers, we are uniquely positioned to educate, advocate, and support individuals and families affected by organ donation and transplantation.
The need for organ donation is profound. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), over 100,000 individuals in the United States are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, and every nine minutes, another person is added to the waiting list. Tragically, an average of 17 people die each day due to a lack of available organs. Despite overwhelming support for donation—90% of Americans say they support it—only about 60% are registered as donors. This gap between support and action underscores the importance of raising awareness and encouraging registration. Case managers, with our direct patient interactions and advocacy roles, can help bridge this divide.
One of the most impactful ways case managers can contribute is through education. Many individuals and families have misconceptions about organ donation, including concerns about religious beliefs, age restrictions, or medical suitability. By providing accurate, evidence-based information from reputable sources like UNOS, Donate Life America, and the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), we can help dispel myths and encourage informed decision-making.
Encouraging organ donor registration is another vital role case managers can play. A simple reminder to patients, caregivers, and colleagues about the importance of signing up as an organ donor can have a lasting impact. Directing individuals to RegisterMe.org, the national donor registry, allows more people to document their decision and potentially save lives in the future.
For families facing end-of-life decisions, the guidance of a case manager can be invaluable. In these difficult moments, helping families understand the organ donation process and offering compassionate support can make a profound difference. Honoring a loved one’s decision to be a donor can provide solace during a time of loss. On the other side of the equation, transplant recipients often require complex, long-term care coordination. Case managers play a crucial role in ensuring access to post-transplant resources, medication management, and ongoing follow-up care.
Case managers can also advocate for policies that promote timely referrals to organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and ensure that donation discussions are managed with sensitivity and accuracy. Those in leadership positions can encourage workplace initiatives such as hosting donor registration drives or partnering with local OPOs for educational sessions.
While Donate Life Month serves as a powerful reminder of the need for organ donation, the mission does not end in April. The need is ongoing, and as case managers, we have the opportunity to drive lasting changes through education, advocacy, and compassionate care. By supporting organ donation, we contribute to a future where more lives are saved, fewer families endure loss due to transplant shortages, and every individual in need of a transplant has a renewed chance at life.
This April let’s reaffirm our commitment to making a difference. Through the power of education and advocacy, case managers can be a force for change, ensuring that the gift of life reaches those who need it most.
Bio: Janet Coulter, MSN, MS, RN, CCM, FCM is President of CMSA. She is a transplant case manager with a wide variety of experiences including educator, administrator, team leader, and Director of Case Management. Janet holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Adult Education from Marshall University. She has published many articles in CMSA Today and the Professional Case Management Journal and served as a reviewer for the Core Curriculum for Case Management Third Edition. She has served as President-Elect of CMSA, Chair of the CMSA Today Editorial Board, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Vice-President of the CMSA Foundation board. Janet was the recipient of the CMSA National Award of Service Excellence and Southern Ohio Valley CMSA Case Management Leadership award and was recently inducted as a Case Management Fellow from CMSA.
References
- Donate Life America. (2024). National Donate Life Month. Retrieved from https://www.donatelife.net
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). (2024). Organ Donation Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.organdonor.gov
- United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). (2024). Transplant Data & Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.unos.org