Claire and Keenan sit down with Lisa Watkins, Director of Quality Systems to discuss the importance of reviewing a donor’s chart to ensure the safety of the recipient who will be receiving a lifesaving organ and/or tissue transplant. Lisa also discusses the regulatory organizations and the guidelines that govern and shape the work Donor Alliance does on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, Lisa covers the importance of the Donor Risk Assessment Interview (DRAI) used in the donation screening process. Lisa also highlights the partnership between Donor Alliance and our hospital partners and the work that goes into ensuring CMS compliance.

Claire sits down with Advocate for Life Dean Hutto. Dean shares his connection to organ donation and the impact that a generous donor saying “yes” to donation has had on his life. Dean shares how his health was affected both before and after receiving a lifesaving transplant.

Claire sits down with Advocate for Life Babs Canacari. Babs shares her connection to organ donation and the meaning that saying “yes” to donation has given her and her family. Babs talks about how she continues to honor her daughter Brianna’s wish to be donor and the legacy that lives on through the precious gift of life Brianna gave to others.

April is National Donate Life Month! Claire and Cheryl Talley, Director of PR/Communication discuss National Donate Life Month and the upcoming events taking place throughout Colorado and Wyoming to honor donors, donor families, recipients, and those who continue to wait for a lifesaving and life healing transplant. To participate in National Donate Life Month please visit www.decidingondonation.org.

Claire and Keenan are joined by Joyleen Helcoski, Aftercare Coordinator to discuss how Donor Alliance supports and stays connected to our donor families far beyond the donation process. Joyleen explains how families learn about Donor Alliance’s aftercare program, the services provided through the program, as well as how often and in what ways Donor Alliance stays connected with donor families. Joyleen also discusses how recipient information is shared with donor families, and how often donor families and recipients meet and what those meetings look like.

Claire and Keenan sit down with Serena Altamirano, Donor Services Manager to discuss the tissue donation process. Serena discusses the clinical triggers for a tissue referral, who can make the referral call, the steps that go into taking a referral and evaluating a potential donor for tissue donation suitability, as well as the various logistics that take place from referral to recovery. Serena goes over the importance of the various screening questions that are asked during the referral and evaluation process, and why they are asked. Additionally, Serena talks about how Donor Alliance and our partners work together to support families through the donation process.

To contact Donor Alliance to make a referral, hospital staff can call the Donor Information Line at (800) 448-4644 or (303) 321-0060.

Claire and Keenan are joined by Family Services Manager Jennifer Henderson to discuss the referral process. Jennifer covers clinical triggers for an organ referral, information gathered during the initial referral call, and interacting and communicating with donor families. Jennifer also talks about how Donor Alliance and our hospital partners work collaboratively through the referral process, scenarios for immediate referrals, and how to contact Donor Alliance to begin the referral process.

To contact Donor Alliance to make a referral, hospital staff can call the Donor Information Line at (800) 448-4644 or (303) 321-0060.

Director of PR/Communications Cheryl Talley joins Claire and Keenan to discuss PR's role in Donor Alliance. Cheryl, Claire, and Keenan talk about Donate Life month, communicating the organization's mission, educating the public, signing up to be a donor, and how people can participate in various activities and events around donation.

Claire and Keenan sit down with Jennifer Prinz, President and CEO of Donor Alliance to discuss donation and the organization's past, present and future. Prinz discusses the organization's mission and the impact that it has on donor and recipient families, as well as the partnerships that are fostered between Donor Alliance and its hospital partners and transplant centers.