UPMC Presbyterian Receives HHS Honors for Organ Donor Enrollment Efforts
By: By Jennifer C. Yates and Martin Kinnunen
UPMC Presbyterian was recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for reaching the gold level of achievement, the highest possible, for conducting activities that promoted enrollment in state organ donor registries. The hospital’s efforts were part of a national campaign known as the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign led by HHS to increase donor enrollments in state registries nationwide.
UPMC conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate associates, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors. Activities included passing out information in Pittsburgh’s Market Square, a parade of transplant recipients throughout the hospital, the annual UPMC Donate Life flag-raising ceremony at UPMC Montefiore, and outreach efforts on social media. UPMC earned points for each activity implemented between June 2013 and May 2014.
“As transplant pioneers at UPMC, we recognize the importance of the gift of life and have always encouraged our clinicians, associates, and members of the community to make the pledge to be an organ donor. We are grateful of the support of the Pittsburgh region in making our efforts a success,” said John Innocenti, president, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside.
In all, 1,228 hospitals and transplant centers are participating in the HHS campaign. Their combined efforts have added 327,659 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide since 2011, exceeding the HHS goal of 300,000.
UPMC works closely with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States, to promote organ donor awareness all year long.
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“As transplant pioneers at UPMC, we recognize the importance of the gift of life and have always encouraged our clinicians, associates, and members of the community to make the pledge to be an organ donor. We are grateful of the support of the Pittsburgh region in making our efforts a success,” said John Innocenti, president, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside.
