Delineation of the Role of Organ Transplant Coordinator in Taiwan: A Delphi Survey

Organ transplant coordinator is a front-line practitioner who facilitates patient care throughout all phases of transplantation. However, a lack of consensus on role definition, essential job functions, and licensure and education preparation of these important practitioners results in role confusion. In 2011, the HIV organs transplant tragedy highlighted the role confusion and a lack of job description of organ transplant coordinator in Taiwan. Based on Bucher's framework on the natural history of health care occupation, this study aimed to survey the viewpoints on role definition, essential job functions, and licensure and education preparation of organ transplant coordinator from field experts, using a Delphi survey design. The results show that the survey participants (N=81) have a high consensus on essential job functions and licensure and educational preparation of organ transplant coordinator. Based on the findings, we defined the role of organ transplant coordinators as ＂health care practitioners, responsible for obtaining, verifying, and completing necessary documentation for the transplant patients including donors and recipients; assisting multidisciplinary team members to provide care of the transplant patients and their family pre-transplant or post-transplant; coordinating transplantation process within and between hospitals including communication between physicians, patient/families, organ procurement organization, and the medical team involved; organizing educational activities about transplantation and organ donations for the hospital system and local community; and enhancing the professional competences through self-learning and growth＂. We hope by delineating the role of organ transplant coordinator in Taiwan, public discussion and rigorous research can be initiated leading to a pathway for its professional role development.