ODTC Project Snapshot: Mapping Provincial/Territorial Decision-Making Mechanisms and Implementation Procedures for Organ Sharing Policies

Mapping Provincial/Territorial Decision-Making Mechanisms and Implementation Procedures for Organ Sharing Policies

What is this project about?

Project background

Organs are shared across Canada to improve patient access to transplant, equity, and to maximize organ utilization (i.e. organs that can’t be used in one province are sent to another). However, inter-provincial organ sharing policies and practices vary across provinces. Currently, there is no clear process for the approval and implementation of national inter-provincial organ sharing policies within each provincial and territorial jurisdiction. The lack of a pan-Canadian process to coordinate, communicate, implement, and monitor the national implementation of interprovincial organ sharing policies has revealed the complexity of the system in which organ sharing takes place. The complex systems and rules between provinces need to be understood as a first step in removing barriers to improving the organ donation and transplantation system across Canada and ultimately increasing the utilization of organs and the efficiency of the inter-provincial organ sharing process.

Objectives

The goal of the project is to understand the current context and practices that exist in each province with the aim of developing recommendations to address long-standing barriers in the dissemination and adoption of organ sharing policies.

Overview of activities

  • Review and analyze existing policies in order to create a process map for the approval and implementation of interprovincial organ sharing policies and agreements across Canadian jurisdictions.
  • Develop recommendations for streamlining and improving the path to dissemination and implementation of organ sharing policies across Canadian jurisdictions

How will the project improve the organ donation and transplantation system in Canada?

The project will contribute to:

  • Providing analysis and recommendations that will support stakeholders in reaching agreement on system improvements related to inter-provincial organ sharing policies that enhance the effectiveness of the pan-Canadian organ donation and transplantation system.
  • Spreading best practices and improvements within and across organ donation organizations, regions, provinces and territories.
  • Ultimately supporting increased opportunities for donation and transplantation, and the equity and quality of transplantations.

The project lead

The project is led by the Trillium Gift of Life Network.

Claire Payne, Vice President, Clinical Transplant System

“I’m honoured to be part of this very exciting time for organ donation and transplantation in Canada. Many thanks to the Collaborative for undertaking the incredible task of bringing the ODT community together to develop an effective process to increase access to transplant for all Canadians. I look forward to the transformation that will undoubtedly result from the Collaborative and ensuring our collective goals for interprovincial organ sharing are brought to fruition.”

EXPECTED PROJECT COMPLETION IN 2021

 

 

The Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative is an initiative led by Health Canada with provinces and territories (except Québec), Canadian Blood Services, patients, families, clinicians and researchers. Funded by Health Canada, the project Mapping Provincial/Territorial Decision-Making Mechanisms and Implementation Procedures for Organ Sharing Policies contributes to the Collaborative’s vision to achieve organ donation and transplantation system improvements that result in better patient outcomes and an increase in the number and quality of successful transplantations. For more information, please consult the Organ Donation and Transplantation Collaborative (the Collaborative) website: https://tinyurl.com/ODTCollaborative.