Resource Newsletter Archive
New program to Bolster Funeral Home Support
In order to lessen the impact that tissue donation has on funeral homes, the Northwest Tissue Services recently established a program designed to build better and more effective relationships with the funeral home directors and staffs.
The goal of the Tissue Services's new Funeral Home Program is to meet funeral directors' needs by addressing issues in a timely manner and collaborating to provide solutions.
Tissue Services representatives in Washington, Northern Idaho and Montana will serve as key contacts for the directors. Accordingly, the Tissue Services sent each funeral home a letter listing the representatives, each of whom are available to answer questions or listen to directors' concerns.
“When a family loses a loved one, tissue donation may provide a source of comfort,” notes John Cannon, Tissue Services hospital services coordinator.
“Funeral home directors can provide families with this great opportunity by placing a referral call to Northwest Tissue Services. And we want to do everything we can to facilitate that process.”
Cards and Algorithms Under the new program, the Tissue Services has taken several other steps to make the road to donation easier. Says Cannon: “We created donor referral cards specifically for the funeral directors so that they can partner with us to provide the option of donation to families.”
The referral cards contain a phone number for the donor referral line that reaches the donation coordinator on call for the Tissue Services or the Northwest Lions Eye Bank. The donation coordinator will talk to the family about the options for tissue and cornea donation.
Following the recovery, a Tissue Services staff member also completes a thank you card that is returned to the funeral home. The card, completed by the surgical team, indicates the specific tissues that were donated and lists contact information for the Tissue Services.
In addition, Tissue Services staff developed an algorithm—a printed detailed sequence of actions—for funeral homes to follow in order to simplify their role in referring potential donors. The process is simple but the impact can be substantial for the family. The funeral director is encouraged to contact the donor referral line prior to approaching the family to establish donor eligibility. If the individual is a potential donor, the donation coordinator and the funeral home director will partner to offer the option of donation to the family.
“We've also attended and will continue to attend annual Washington State Funeral Directors Association conferences,” says Cannon. “There, we can offer solutions to challenges that have arisen in the past, and we also gain insight into ways that we can better serve the funeral directors.”
Benefits to All The time and logistics involved in tissue donation can sometimes impact funeral home practices. Extra time and effort may be required for embalming and restoration, to facilitate viewings and memorial services. Collaborative efforts by the Tissue Services and the funeral homes are essential to the support of the donor family and their wishes.
“We at the Northwest Tissue Services are very aware of the extra time and effort that tissue donation requires of funeral directors and their staffs,” said Candy Wells, the Tissue Services's hospital services supervisor.
“In that regard, we want to support donor families and the funeral directors. While we can't pay for funeral expenses, we will reimburse funeral homes for any reasonable costs directly related to the donation,” said Wells. “We simply ask that the funeral homes bill the Tissue Services directly, and not the donor family.
“Our overall desire with the new Funeral Home Program is to continue to build effective relationships with funeral home directors, and that in turn will benefit potential donor families and those waiting for life enhancing transplants.”