Wedowee Hospital is among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries in a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Wedowee Hospital conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors and community members about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors. The hospital’s efforts helped increase the number of potential donors on the state’s donor registry.
The hospital earned points for each activity implemented between October 2016 and April 2017 and was awarded platinum level recognition through the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign.
Of the 1,102 hospitals and transplant centers participating in the campaign, only 349 were recognized with this level of participation in this phase of the campaign. The HRSA campaign has added more than 400,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide.
Nationally, more than 116,900 people are waiting for an organ transplant. A new person is added to the waiting list every 18 minutes. According to the Alabama Organ Center, in Alabama alone more than 3,800 people are waiting for a transplant.
“It’s important that everyone understand the many ways that organ and tissue donation can help improve the lives of others,” said Suzanne Brown, NP, director of support services for Wedowee Hospital. “If you want to be an organ donor, communicate that desire with your loved ones who might be in the position of making that choice for you one day.”
The campaign is a special effort from HRSA’s Workplace Partnership for Life to mobilize the nation’s hospitals to increase the number of people in the country who are registered organ, eye and tissue donors — and ultimately, the number of organs available for transplant. The campaign unites donation advocates at hospitals with representatives from their local organ procurement organizations, Donate Life America affiliates and state and regional hospital associations. Working together, the teams leverage their communications resources and outreach efforts to most effectively spread word of the critical need for donors.
Wedowee Hospital worked with the Alabama Organ Center on the campaign.
“Hospitals are well-respected community educators and we value their support in promoting organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Chris Meeks, executive director of the Alabama Organ Center. “We encourage everyone to learn about this life-saving opportunity and to take action by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.”
Those interested in learning more about organ donation or registering with the Alabama Organ Center can do so online at www.AlabamaOrganCenter.org.