The Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) determines if patients who die at the hospital are suitable for organ or tissue donation. For all patient deaths and imminent deaths, ARORA must be contacted within one hour to assess suitability. If deemed suitable, ARORA will discuss donation with the family following strict procedures to obtain consent and manage the donor according to federal law.

1. Organ/Tissue Donation
Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) is the
organ/tissue procurement agency used by WCMC
 All patients who die in the hospital are considered to be
potential donors - usually for eyes and/or tissue
 ARORA must be called within one hour of death to determine
potential donor suitability for all deaths and imminent deaths
• All deaths – every patient that dies in the hospital
• Imminent deaths – usually potential brain deaths
• Mechanical ventilator support (in CCU or ER)
• Glasgow Coma score of < 5
• Plan to withdraw support

2. Organ Donation (continued)
 At the time of death or imminent death a routine referral is
made to ARORA, who determines if the patient is a suitable
organ and/or tissue donor
 If ARORA states the patient is not a suitable donor, notation
is made on the Post-Mortem Release eform and the family is
not asked about donation
 Information related to organ/tissue donation on the Post
Mortem Release eform is completed before the body is
released from the hospital
 An ARORA coordinator is available 24-hrs a day

3. Organ Donation (continued)
 No staff member, including physicians, is to discuss donation
prior to calling ARORA – this is a federal law
 Only after donor suitability has been determined is the family
approached about donation and only a representative of
ARORA talks with the family about donation using discretion
and sensitivity toward the family
 Once the patient is determined no longer capable of survival
and is supported on the ventilator solely for organ
donation, physiologic management becomes critical to the
successful outcome of transplantation

4. Organ Donation (continued)
 If ARORA determines the patient is a suitable donor they will
discuss options with the family or give hospital staff
directions
 The CCU or ER nurse assists in fulfilling ARORA’s medical
orders related to providing patient care and donor
maintenance
 These orders are written on the physician order form as a
verbal order from the ARORA coordinator
 ARORA is responsible for further evaluation of the donor,
notification of the appropriate organ tissue recovery agency,
obtaining informed consent, and providing management of
the potential donor