Kisa Barnett, Manager Critical Care

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• Kisa Barnett, Manager Critical Care
• Jessie Van Buren, MSW

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Diligent Search Policy

• If the identity of the decedent and or authorized
  next-of-kin is unknown, a Diligent Search will be
  conducted for 12 hours to identify and locate
  such individuals. Documentation of time and date,
  on hospital form, must be completed to verify
  timeline.

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Case Study

• Young male with blunt head trauma, auto vrs.
  Peds.
• Transferred from Mission Community
• Ethnicity undeterminable
• No identification with patient
• Brain Dead

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Steps in the Search Process

• Departments involved
• Social Workers
• Organ Procurement Organization
• Managers
• Risk Management
• Security
• Spiritual Care
• Police Advocate
• Trauma Services

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Steps in the Search Process

• Contacts Made
• Hospital Operator
• Missing Persons
• Mission Community Hospital
• Paramedics
• Police Department
• Finger Printing Agency

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Steps in the Search Process

• Activities
• Clothing Searched bus ticket
• Front Desk Alert for Unknown Patient
• Body Searched to identify marks/tattoos/scars
• Finger printing done STAT (special circumstances)
• Public Relations prepared news release

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Located by STAT Finger Prints

• LCSW calls home number unidentifiable male
  answers possible cousin or friend with whom the
  patient lives
• LCSW contacted Court
• LCSW called patients Parole Officer
• LCSW called local police to go to patients
  residence
• Family identified

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Located by STAT Finger Prints

• Uncle in Fresno (drove down)
• Parents in Mexico
• Spanish speaking
• OneLegacy Family Advocate contacted parents by
  phone

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Outcome

• Patient Declared Brain Dead X2
• Family Found
• Donation Offered
• Family Declined

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Lessons Learned

• Finger prints are the primary method for
  identifying patients
• Without a record, patient remains unknown
• Telephonic approaches require more time and
  multiple calls (decoupling)
• Time is taken to identify patients who are
  determined eligible for donation so that families
  do receive the option to donate

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UNITED IN AIM

• It is our collected hope
• This work will be used to glorify God
• Hurting hearts will be soothed
• Lives will be saved
• Best practices continued
• All families be honored with the right to decide