Thursday, January 08, 2009

Organ donor program adds vital lifeline for servicemembers, families

Thanks to a program supported by some of the nation’s organ procurement organizations, active duty servicemembers and their families diagnosed with renal disease have a greater change to receive live-saving organs. The transplant network, called the Military Sharing Program, allows military members to designate donated organs to military beneficiaries listed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The military share program serves all members of the uniformed services.

According to Army Lt. Col. Edward Falta, M.D., chief, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Organ Transplant Service, the program is beneficial because active duty servicemembers and their families tend to move around the country. They are put at a disadvantage for transplant purposes by not having a single transplant center from which to base their listing.

“We have a number of patients on active duty who develop renal disease during the course of their military career,” said Falta. “As they are transitioned to network care, we try to maintain their listing. So our beneficiaries really reach out across the United States, the whole country, overseas on several occasions.” “It’s a way for the military community across the country to take care of itself,” Falta said. “It means a lot to us and our service families.”

All U.S. hospitals are required to enter contracts and have policies with their local organ procurement organizations or OPOs.  The contracts at military treatment facilities make special provisions for the military share program as well as military medical examiner cases which are specific to military needs.

In an effort to recognize the generosity of organ banks supporting the military and to encourage others to do so, the Army Medical Command recognized two OPOs for their support of the military share program. Carolina Donor Services of North Carolina and Lifelink of Georgia received a personalized award signed by Army Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker and presented by Falta. Since 2003, the two OPOs have donated 31 organs to the military health system.

“Participation in the share program is voluntary on the part of the OPOs and is a reflection of their understanding of and sensitivity to the military community as well as their patriotism,” said Falta.  “It is truly a means by which the military community is afforded the ability to care for its own members, facilitated by these generous OPOs.”