PHILADELPHIA, PA – Gift of Life Donor Program – the organ procurement organization for the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware – and the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Southeast Connect, honored Paoli Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center with the 2018 Gift of Life Award on November 2. This prestigious, annual award is given to hospitals with superior performance in organ donation that have either achieved a 75% organ donation conversion rate during the past year, or that have dramatically improved their performance compared to the previous year. The recipients were honored at the HAP Southeast Connect meeting, which was held at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA.
Gift of Life also recognized 19 Pennsylvania hospitals that achieved a 100% patient referral rate. The hospitals are: Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson Frankford Hospital, Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Lankenau Medical Center, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, St. Mary Medical Center, Nazareth Hospital, Paoli Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Temple University Hospital, and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
“We are pleased to honor Paoli Hospital and St. Mary Medical Center with the Gift of Life Award for their superior performance in organ donation,” said Howard M. Nathan, president and CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program. “We thank both hospitals for their commitment to making donation a routine part of compassionate end of life care, and for providing a second chance at life for so many.”
Jan L. Weinstock, VP & General Counsel, Gift of Life Donor Program (center) presents representatives from Paoli Hospital with the 2018 Gift of Life Award.
“On behalf of the entire Paoli Hospital team, we are honored to be recognized by Gift of Life for our commitment to organ donation education,” said Jim Paradis, President of Paoli Hospital. “As health care providers, we understand the unique role and responsibility we have to educate our patients about the difference that their donation can make. Our team at Paoli Hospital is committed to making the donation process a compassionate, safe and seamless experience for our patients and their families. The life-saving power of organ donation can only occur with the assistance of dedicated professionals who understand the needs of patients-and that is exactly what we have at Paoli Hospital and throughout Main Line Health.”
Representatives from St. Mary Medical Center attend the 2018 HAP SE Connect event.
“St. Mary Medical Center is grateful for our partnership with the Gift of Life Donor Program, which allows us to serve our community in life-changing ways,” said James Woodward, president and CEO of St. Mary Medical Center. “At St. Mary, our colleagues and clinical teams work diligently to bring compassion and simple, human kindness to each and every donor family as we honor the life-saving gift of organ donation.”
About Gift of Life
Gift of Life Donor Program is the non-profit, federally-designated organ procurement organization, serving 11.2 million people across Delaware, southern New Jersey and the eastern half of Pennsylvania. Its annual donation rate ranks among the highest in the world. Since 1974, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 46,000 life-saving organs for transplant, and approximately one million tissue transplants have resulted from the generosity of donors and their families. One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, and a tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 75 others. Click here to register as an organ donor.