Quality management system applied to organ donation: United Arab Emirates experience

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The 3rd Global Consultation on Organ Donation and Transplantation stated that every nation should achieve self-sufficiency in organ donation. In the Middle East the deceased organ donation (DD) average rate is 2.29 donors/pmp. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) started their DD program in 2017 approving brain death declaration. UAE National Transplant Committee started an international collaboration with Donation and Transplantation Institute (DTI Foundation) in 2017 for the development of the DD program. In 2019, 4 hospital-based organ donation unit (H-ODU) were established in Abu Dhabi. The aim of this study was to combine the ISO 90012015 quality management system (QMS) and the Organ Donation European Quality System (ODEQUS) to improve DD. METHOD: SEUSA is based on the Spanish, European and USA models tailored to the local needs. The QMS used was a combination of the ISO with ODEQUS methodology. The Abu Dhabi hospitals were selected according to their DD potentiality. Monthly follow-up between H-ODU's staff and DTI team were performed to monitor SOPs development and ODEQUS KIPs measurement. After a 6 months implementation period, an internal audit was performed by a DTI experts in DD/ISO QMS. Finally, an external audit was performed and ISO 90012015 quality certification was granted. RESULTS: 10 SOPs regarding DD were developed per unit and 4 ODEQUS key indicators (KPI) were selected (Table 1). After completed the internal audits, 1 H-ODU applied for the external audit and quality certification. As a result of the measures implemented, UAE moved from 0 donors to 1.1 donors/pmp in 2019. Lastly, in 2020 the Abu Dhabi Department of Health released the KPIs as a mandate for all hospitals to improve DD performance. CONCLUSION: The collaboration between local and international organization supports the successful implementation of DD best practices in new regions.