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United Hospital Receives National Honor from Department of Health and Human Services
Commitment to Saving Lives through Organ Donation Praised at National Conference
ST. PAUL, Minn. 11/08/2006-- United Hospital has been awarded with the Health and Human Services (HHS) Medal of Honor Award. Representatives of 371 of the nation’s largest hospitals, together with their partners in 57 organ procurement organizations, were recognized on Oct. 19, 2006, during a meeting in New Orleans of the Breakthrough Collaborative National Learning Congress on Organ Donation and Transplantation.
The prestigious Medal of Honor award is presented to hospitals and organ procurement organizations who achieve life-saving organ donation rates of 75 percent or more for a sustained twelve month period. For perspective, the national average donation rate in all hospitals in 2005 was 59 percent, up from 54 percent in 2004. The Medal of Honor Award is one element of the Organ Donation Breakthrough collaboratives, two highly successful national initiatives to increase organ donation rates in the nation’s largest hospitals, thus increasing the number of lives saved through transplantation.
“The work of these hospitals and organ procurement organizations made possible 1,200 more life-saving and life-enhancing transplants in 2005 compared to 2004,” said Elizabeth M. Duke, administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, which houses the federal government’s pro-donation activities. “Their achievements show that we can improve systems to boost donation rates and save more lives in the future.”
LifeSource, the non-profit organization responsible for managing organ donation activities in the Upper Midwest, partners with hospitals and transplant centers to provide the bridge between the loss of life and the gift of life. In 2005, 181 people in the region generously extended the gift of life to more than 600 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Twelve of more than 200 hospitals in the LifeSource region received this prominent national award.
Susan Gunderson, chief executive officer at LifeSource, said, “We are thrilled that so many of our hospitals received this prestigious award. The steadfast support and dedication of our hospitals is truly remarkable, and we are proud to partner with so many organizations that are exceptionally committed to saving lives through donation and transplantation.”
Dedicated hospital staff is vitally important in the life-saving work of organ donation, as are the generous and noble families who give the gift of life. Minnesotans can document their wishes to be an organ and tissue donor by registering online at Donate Life Minnesota or checking the box on their driver’s license application or renewal form. Individuals are also encouraged to talk with their loved ones about their wishes.
Organ donation facts from LifeSource (www.organdonation.org):
- More than 93,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, including more than 2,200 in Minnesota
- Each day 100 names are added to the national transplant waiting list and, sadly, 17 people die simply because not enough people say yes to donation
- On average, about 74 people in the United States receive an organ transplant each day.
- One person can save or enhance up to 60 lives through organ and tissue donation.
LifeSource is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the Upper Midwest. The LifeSource service area covers Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of western Wisconsin.
United Hospital, the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro area, is a non-profit hospital providing a full range of health care services to more than 200,000 people each year. United offers a wide range of health services including a birth center, cardiac care in the Nasseff Heart Center, emergency care, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences and epilepsy, a pain center, rehabilitation, medical imaging and surgery. More information about the hospital, which is part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, can be found on the Internet at www.unitedhospital.com.
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, 65 clinics, home care and hospice services, oxygen and equipment, pharmacies, and emergency medical transportation services. Allina Hospitals & Clinics and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.
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