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Not the actual DCU room.

Donor Care Unit in Cincinnati

A Donor Care Unit (DCU) is a dedicated space reserved for the care of organ donors. The 2022 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Report recommended Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), such as Network for Hope, establish DCUs.

In this area, teams are able to provide the most efficient services that result in more lives saved through transplantation. Network for Hope’s DCU is at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Please contact Network for Hope’s Hospital Partnerships team if you have any questions. We are always happy to help. Please email PartnershipServices@networkforhope.org, or call (513) 558-5555.

Through the DCU, Network for Hope's goal is to:

  • Increase the number of organs transplant to save more lives.
  • Foster innovation in organ rehabilitation and improve donor intervention.
  • Offer continued support and space for donor families.
  • Provide consistent and reliable organ donor processes.
  • Ensure imaging and diagnostics to evaluate organ function, as well as Operating Room (OR) space for the procurement surgery, are available 24/7/365.

How does a DCU Help Donor Families?

A benefit of the DCU is family support: DCUs allow for a faster organ recovery process. The time required to complete the process is often a barrier for families to move forward with donation. This means families can bring their loved one’s home sooner.

Dr. Bonomo Explains the Vision for a Holistic Donor Care Unit Within UCMC's ICU​

Subscribe to our podcast, This Thing Called Life, wherever you get your podcasts, for more stories about organ, tissue, and eye donation.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the United States, 28 of the 55 OPOs have active DCUs, as of December 2024. A majority of the remaining OPOs report current or pending development of DCUs.

Not at all. Hospitals in Network for Hope's service area provide phenomenal patient care and have developed excellent donation programs. Network for Hope is grateful for its partnerships with all the hospitals within its service area. This change will only build upon the commitment to organ, tissue, and eye donation that hospitals have already demonstrated, and the donor and family care they provide.

Life-saving donation is only possible because hospital care teams believe in it, provide exceptional care, support donation opportunities, and notify Network for Hope of potential donors in a timely manner. These elements make it possible for selfless individuals and families to save lives, while also creating a legacy of hope and healing. Hospital care teams share that it is an honor to care for patients and their families at pivotal moments in their lives. That will not change.

Current practices to honor the donor, family, and their legacy will continue. Donors initiated at each hospital will be attributed to hospital donation program outcomes, and the initiating hospital location will be used for allocation location.

The following flowchart provides instructions on how the transfer may or may not look like, depending on the case:

Nationally, most families have said goodbye to their loved one at the originating hospital prior to their loved one’s transfer to the DCU. Additionally, families have shared a sense of relief when they are provided the guidance that they can say goodbyes and return to their homes. Therefore, travel will not be offered to families as standard. However, families are more than welcome to accompany their loved one's to UCMC.

Network for Hope will continue to reimburse the initiating hospital charges that are related to donation. Hospitals will not lose reimbursement opportunity by transferring donors.

Network for Hope arranges transport to the funeral home the family has selected. All donation-related costs are covered by Network for Hope. No donation-related expenses are covered by the families.

Saint Joseph Health (Lexington)
Tuesday, April 29, at 12 p.m.
Baptist Health - Paducah
Wednesday, April 30, at 11 a.m. CST
All-Day Golf Tournament – Marshall University School of Medicine
Tuesday, April 29
Good Samaritan Hospital (Cincinnati)
Monday, April 28, at 10 a.m.
Location: Flag pole outside Dixmyth entrance
UK HealthCare Wall Ceremony
Saturday, April 26, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
Mercy Health - Clermont Hospital
Friday, April 25, at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Lobby
UofL Health - Mary & Elizabeth
Friday, April 25, at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Flag pole
UK Softball Donate Life Game
Friday, April 25
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
Bethesda North Hospital
Thursday, April 24, at 12 p.m.
Location: In front of Chapel, near main elevators
Owensboro Health Regional Hospital
Thursday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. CST
Missing Event
Thursday, April 24
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
Missing Event
Wednesday, April 23
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
Clinton Memorial Hospital
Tuesday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m.
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Monday, April 21, at 12 p.m.
Location: Sabin Auditorium
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
National Pediatric Transplant Week
(Trust Website)
April 20 – April 26
Baptist Health Floyd
Friday, April 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Flag pole
Norton Audubon Hospital
Friday, April 18, at 1 p.m.
Norton Children's Hospital
Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m.
The Jewish Hospital (Mercy Health in Kenwood)
Wednesday, April 16, at 11 a.m.
Location: Flag pole at ED Bay
St. Elizabeth Health
Wednesday, April 16, at 2:30 p.m.
Location: Training and Education Center
Baptist Hardin Hospital
Tuesday, April 15, at 11 a.m.
Location: Flag Pole
Bethesda Butler Hospital
Tuesday, April 15, at 2:30 p.m.
Location: Lobby
Mercy Health - Anderson Hospital
Tuesday, April 15, at 12 p.m.
Location: Lobby
Cincinnati Reds / Jackie Robinson Series
Tuesday, April 15 at 6:40 p.m.
Share Your Decision Day
Saturday, April 12
Living Liver Donor Awareness - Cincinnati Reds
Friday, April 11
The Christ Hospital Health Network
Friday, April 11, at 10 a.m.
Location: Main Lobby
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Friday, April 11, at 2 p.m.
Location: Gardner Neuroscience Institute
Fleming County Hospital
Friday, April 11, at 2 p.m.
Meadowview Regional Medical Center
Friday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m.
Donate Life Blue & Green Day
Friday, April 11
National Donate Life Blue & Green Day
Friday, April 11
Living Liver Foundation Presents Living Donor Day
Friday, April 11
Create Donate Life Art
Thursday, April 10
Cincinnati Children’s Pediatric Panel
Thursday, April 10
McCullough Hyde Hospital
Thursday, April 10 at 9 a.m.
Pikeville Medical Center
Thursday, April 10 at 10 a.m.
Location: Flag Pole
Mercy Health - Kings Mill Hospital
Thursday, April 10, at 12 p.m.
Location: Lobby
Norton Clark Hospital (IN)
Thursday, April 10 at 12 p.m.
UK Softball Donate Life Game
Wednesday, April 9
Donate Life Flag Raising Day
Wednesday, April 9
UofL Health and UofL Health
Wednesday, April 9, at 12 p.m.
Location: Jewish Campus
UK HealthCare at UK Softball
Wednesday, April 9, at 6 p.m.
Location: John Cropp Stadium
Write A Message of Hope
Tuesday, April 8
Thank Your Healthcare Team
Monday, April 7
Make Blue & Green Treats
Sunday, April 6
FC Cincinnati Entitlement Game vs. New England
Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m.
UK Softball Donate Life Game
Saturday, April 5
Blue & Green Spirit Week Kickoff
Saturday, April 5
Dess Up Your Pet Day
Saturday, April 5
Cabell Huntington Hospital
Thursday, April 3, at 9 a.m.
Location: Huntington, WV
Saint Mary's Medical Center
Thursday, April 3, at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Huntington, WV
Donate Life Living Donor Day
Wednesday, April 2
Mercy Health - West Hospital
Wednesday, April 2, at 11 a.m.
Location: T-level auditorium
UC West Chester Hospital
Wednesday, April 2, at 1:00 p.m.
Mercy Health - Fairfield Hospital
Tuesday, April 1 at 11:30 p.m.
Location: Flag pole