PHILADELPHIA, PA —– The HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge encourages hospitals to increase organ donation awareness and designations in their hospital and community.
Pennsylvania’s challenge led the nation in hospital participation and was recognized by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donation Campaign.
The challenge was held during April to coincide with National Donate Life Month. Hospital activities were captured on a scorecard and assigned titanium, platinum, gold, silver and bronze-level recognition.
The top Donate Life Challenge health systems in Gift of Life’s region are: First Place – Einstein Health Care Network; Second Place – The University of Pennsylvania Hospital System; Third Place – Jefferson Health.
The top hospitals are: First Place – Temple University Hospital; Second Place – Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Third Place – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Six health care systems achieved the highest level of Titanium. Seven health care systems reached the Platinum Level.
Sixty-five hospitals achieved the following levels of success: Titanium – 30 hospitals; Platinum – 32; Gold – two; and Bronze – one.
“Everyone at Gift of Life Donor Program applauds the tremendous innovation and hard work of HAP and our hospital partners in making the HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge such a force in promoting donation and transplantation,” said Howard M. Nathan, President and CEO, Gift of Life Donor Program. “Our hospital partners hosted hundreds of community events and implemented many new programs to foster a growing culture of donation. It is this strong, shared commitment to best practices, outreach, and education that enables us to save and enhance thousands of lives each year. Thanks to these partnerships, Gift of Life leads the nation in the number of organ donations and transplants.”
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.