The first Taiwanese relative kidney transplantation, cadaver kidney transplantation and cardiac transplantation were successfully done in 1968, 1969 and 1987, respectively, in National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). In 1987, the human organ transplantation regulations were legislated in Taiwan, and patients who were brain dead were recognized as one of the legal organ donor sources. From that time, organ transplant medicine begin to flourish in Taiwan. In addition to the increased numbers of organ donors and recipients, the development of organ transplant medicine then further developed into multiple organ transplantation. 
 

The success of organ transplant depends on close collaboration of the interdisciplinary transplant team members. The collaboration of team members often relies on the coordinating person who is familiar with the sophisticated process of organ donation and transplantation, and the unique roles of all team members. Based on this need, the first full-time Taiwanese organ transplant coordinator was recruited by NTUH in 1988. Now there are four full-time coordinators serving in NTUH. They have clinical nursing experiences in the intensive care unit, and have been involved with comprehensive aspects related to heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation by performing the following roles:

1. They help other transplant team members communicate and coordinate the interventions related to organ donation and they also facilitate the living related organ transplantation process.
2. They provide pre-and post-operative physical assessment for the organ candidates/recipients.
3. They provide pre-and post-operative long-term education and consultation for organ donors(include living donors), recipients and their family members.
4. They design teaching materials for the recipients to promote their self care competency.
5. They provide long-term consultation for the supportive groups for the recipients.
6. They provide consultation for other health care providers and help various health institutions to train their transplant coordinator and nurses.
7. They are involved in and facilitate the clinical trails for the various organ transplant cases.
8. They facilitate transplant related non-profit social activities held by public organizations.
9. They are involved in transplant nursing research and manage the long-term statistic data in order to explore various phenomena related to transplantation nursing care.
10. They also combine the transplant recipients to varied organ recipient supported groups.
     

By definition , coordination means to work together harmoniously , to act together in a smooth, concerted manner. Therefore, a transplant coordinator is a person who facilitates the various roles in the transplant process and care.