Division of Critical Care Medicine Recognized for the Donor Specialty Care Unit

Congratulations to the Division of Critical Care Medicine on their recognition in the creation of the Donor Specialty Care Unit (DSCU) at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Dr. Williams along with Stacey Dotter, RN have worked with many donors over the years. The donation process involves a number of steps, including procedures to determine the viability of an organ for donation. The various processes typically take place in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) that take time and require staff who are familiar with the requirements and specific protocols. Williams and Dotter saw an opportunity for improving the method. This includes having a dedicated space for donors and their families, and obtaining special equipment and staff for organ donations.

Working together with Tim Dean, Supervisor of Donation Systems at LifeGift, Memorial Hermann is one of the first hospitals in the country to have a Donor Specialty Care Unit, and the first in the Houston area. Not only has there been increased efficiency.

Since opening in late 2020, the team has noticed an improvement in efficiency, which was one of their primary goals. But something else happened that no one anticipated: an increase in the number of donations of organs per donor. The national average is 2.8 organs donated per donor. Since the DSCU’s opening, the average at Memorial Hermann-TMC is 4 organs donated per donor.

“We’ve been able to get more organs transplanted per donor and this helps save more lives,” said Dean. “It’s been one of the many great things to come out of this unit.” For Williams, Dotter and Dean, it has been incredible to see this vision come to life.

Dr. Williams thanks Drs. Srikar Jonna (Assistant Medical Director- DSCU) and Rishi Kumar (Director of Education and Research- DSCU), who have been an instrumental part of the DSCU’s academics and administration.

More information about the DSCU can be found here.

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