The Alabama Eye Bank Communication Service Center (CSC) is a 24-hour, 7-day a week phone center located at office in Birmingham. It is made up of trained referral coordinators who are responsible for screening potential donors, counseling families, obtaining consent and coordinating the recovery with all parties.
The CSC has been extremely successful since its inception in 2006 by maintaining an impressive consent rate of 56 percent. This means, that out of approaching 440 families, consent for eye donation was obtained from 247 of them. This increase has allowed the Alabama Eye Bank to be able to restore sight to more of those suffering from corneal blindness.
One main goal of the CSC is to make the caller’s job easier. It normally only takes the CSC staff two minutes to screen a potential case and determine whether the patient is a candidate or not. If consent needs to be obtained, it usually takes only an additional five minutes.
The CSC was not only meant to screen potential donors quickly but also to provide another option for counseling.
We understand that some nurses are effective counselors and want to discuss the opportunity of corneal donation with the family. We also understand that there are some nurses who may not as confortable counseling families or just simply don’t have time. Just remember that the CSC is here to help in any way we can.
You can contact the CSC by using any of the following:
Toll Free: 1-800-423-7811
Local: 205-942-7211
Fax: 205-313-8339
E-mail: ablake@alabamaeyebank.org
I am so grateful to the efforts of the Alabama Eye Bank whose research and public education helps bring this wonderful gift to people all over Alabama.
Kenneth Hayes, R.Ph.
Transplant Recipient