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), honored Abington – Jefferson Health and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience with the 2017 Gift of Life Award on November 3. 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 Leows Hotel Philadelphia.
Staff from Abington Hospital- Jefferson Health and staff from Gift of Life Donor Program.
Gift of Life also recognized 22 Pennsylvania hospitals that achieved a 100% patient referral rate. The hospitals are: Abington Hospital –Jefferson Health, Aria-Jefferson Health Frankford, Aria-Jefferson Health Torresdale, Brandywine Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Crozer Chester Medical Center, Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Jeanes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Lankenau Hospital, Lower Bucks Hospital, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Nazareth Hospital, Paoli Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and St. Mary Medical Center.
“We are pleased to recognize Abington – Jefferson Health and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience as dedicated and leading champions for organ donation,” said Gift of Life President & CEO Howard M. Nathan. “We are extremely grateful for the exceptional talent and commitment of our hospital partners. They truly give people a second chance at life.”
“Abington is a busy trauma center with a large critical care service, making it crucial to have a good partnership like the one we have with the Gift of Life Donor Program,” said Abington – Jefferson Health President Meg McGoldrick. “Gift of Life provides invaluable expertise and support as we help families considering organ donation through one of the most difficult experiences they will ever have to face.”
Staff from Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience and staff from Gift of Life Donor Program.
“We are dedicated to giving families who are committed to organ donation the chance to fulfill the final wishes of their loved ones,” said Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals President Richard J. Webster, MSN, RN. “It’s an extremely difficult time for families, and with the guidance of the Gift of Life Donor Program, we strive to do our part to make the process one that is more sensitive and more streamlined.”
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About Gift of Life Donor Program
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 up to 75 others. For more information or to register, visit donors1.org.