The Evolution of Donor Organ Procurement Air Transport Programs Saving More Lives
Major expansion news was just announced from one of the most innovative OPO/donor organ programs in the country – Indiana Donor Network, and their own aviation transport program – TxJet.
I had the pleasure of helping lead initial contract, business development and management work between Indiana Donor Network (IDN)- formerly Indiana Organ Procurement Organization (IOPO), and longtime client/peer Jet Logistics.
Our initial negotiations with IDN began early in 2013 when they were trying to resolve immediate transport logistics issues with their former arrangement. In short, IDN was basically trying to cover their 24/7 organ transport needs with a patchwork of on-demand, local charter providers, with inconsistent service/results at best. This was unfortunately a common methodology that remains prevalent across many leading OPO, hospital and other medical organizations in our country. And this fact is altogether more surprising given that safe, timely and reliable air transportation is a key component of the critical care services.
Steve Johnson – IDN’s COO and an executive with experience in both the healthcare and aviation sectors, had initially began consulting with IDN President Kellie Hanner and their team on how to better address their issues and needs. Steve recognized the issues and was essentially the chief architect of the overhaul of IDN’s donor organ transport program, which began with our contract negotiations to assume responsibility for IDN’s transports.
Logistically, 24/7 emergent and critical care air medical transportation is one of the most demanding and complex service businesses. And the financial and business commitments necessary for an organization to effectively organize and adopt a vertically-integrated transport business plan – and the necessary resources, present significant challenges too. So there were certainly plenty of bumps along the road (or flight path), to say the least. But several years later they opted to advance their program significantly with the addition of their own dedicated/owned fleet of late model Citation Jets under the TxJet entity, with JLI as their air carrier/operator of record. But the transformation and growth of IDN’s entire program in the past 5 years, and impact for residents of Indiana and beyond, has been remarkable. The IDN-JLI partnership has developed a variety of innovations, from the use of dedicated, late model/new turbine jet aircraft, to unique flight crew staffing and custom organ transport equipment in the cabins.
IDN is yet another example of the demonstrable results of a well-organized general aviation program. The IDN/TxJet-JLI operation works effectively because it uses an innovative business and operational model based upon sound asset and utilization metrics. For me personally, it’s exciting to look back at yet another innovative, industry-leading program that I had the opportunity to help capture and develop the initial business partnership for, and continue to watch the life-saving work that Steve, Kellie and their IDN team, together with partners like Jet Logistics, keep building upon since!
I encourage friends and peers to learn more about Indiana Donor Network, UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) – the nation’s organ donation system, and donor organ registration at the following sites:
