The Donation Process
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The Role of an OPO
We Are Sharing Hope SC (SHSC) is South Carolina’s federally designated, non-profit OPO facilitating organ, eye and tissue recovery services for the state. As one of 56 OPOs across the United States, we offer professional education and resources to our community, partners and over 80 hospitals.
- SHSC is responsible for the facilitation of the donation process (according to federal regulations) including recovery, preservation of organs and transportation to the hospital or transplant center.
- Clinical management of organ donors and assessment of medical suitability including authorization, testing and recipient matching.
- Providing compassionate care, grief support and resources to families before, during and after donation.
- Community education and awareness for individuals to make informed decisions about donation and share their wish with loved ones.
- Development of hospital donation policies and procedures and in-depth education for healthcare professionals.
- Facilitation of communication between donor families and transplant recipients.
What OPOs do NOT do:
- OPOs do NOT declare death and are prohibited from any role in the declaration of death process, we only proceed with donation after death has been declared.
- We are not medical professionals and do not perform transplants.
- We do not provide medical care for living patients.
- We do not proceed with donation without authorization from the family and Coroner/Medical Examiner.
Learn more about the organ donation process.
Learn about the two donation pathways.
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