title: [The transplant coordinator].
abstract: Spain was the first European country adopting a strategy of organ procurement based on a specific health professional named transplant coordinator, who was first established in Catalunya in the middle eighties. In principle, the transplant coordinator is a doctor with hospital experience who is involved full time in organ procurement. The transplant coordination activity is available without interruption, due to a team work. Transplant coordination is based on four main functions: clinical, research, training and communication, management. The principles of transplant coordination according to the Spanish model are reported in the recently approved Italian law on transplantation (law 91/1999), indicating the coordinator's specific functions: a) communication to the regional reference centre of the data concerning the possible organ donors, b) preparation of the documents needed, c) relationship with the donors' family, d) information and education of the population on transplantation issues.
authors.affiliation: Assessorato alla Sanità, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanni Costa
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Venturoli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Degli Esposti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazzetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghirardini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ridolfi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manyalich
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D013030:Spain; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000458:organization & administration*
vernacular_title: Il coordinatore ai prelievi.