Unfortunately, about 20 Americans die each day while waiting for transplants, and The Impatient List has been compiled by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services to further explain this dilemma.
The good news is that organ donations are on the rise. Compared to ten years ago, it is has pretty much doubled. Considering that there are 114,000 of eligible patients waiting for donations, it is a good sign. Kidney's are needed the most, with 80% of candidates in need of one, they are predominantly people over the age of five. Liver transplants are most commonly needed for children aged five and under.
The average wait time for a candidate to receive their donation of a kidney can be anywhere between one to two years. Other organs such as the liver, pancreas or heart-lung transplants have longer waiting periods of five or more years.
Organ Donation Infographics
The Impatient List Explains Why Many are Waiting for Transplants
Trend Themes
1. Growing Organ Donation Rates - There is an opportunity for businesses to capitalize on the growth of organ donation rates by developing innovative technologies to help match donors with recipients more efficiently.
2. Shortening Wait Times for Organ Transplants - As wait times for certain organ transplants can be several years, businesses can explore new technologies and methods to shorten these waiting periods and improve patient outcomes.
3. Increasing Awareness of Organ Donation - Businesses can seize the opportunity to increase awareness of organ donation and encourage more people to become donors by developing creative marketing campaigns and partnered programs.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare Industry - The healthcare industry can leverage the growing interest in organ donation to improve their services and offer more efficient transplant procedures.
2. Medical Technology Industry - The medical technology industry has the opportunity to develop innovative technologies and software to streamline the organ transplant matching process, improve patient outcomes, and reduce wait times.
3. Marketing and Advertising Industry - The marketing and advertising industry can help spread awareness about organ donation and encourage more people to become donors through creative campaigns and partnered programs with healthcare organizations.