DONATE LIFE ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS - COLORADO

Donor Alliance recognizes three Colorado hospitals

by EDITORIAL on OCTOBER 14, 2010

in BUSINESS,LOCAL,NEWS | THE VILLAGE NEWSPAPER

On Sept. 17, Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance, the organ procurement organization and American Association of Tissue Banks accredited tissue bank serving Colorado and most of Wyoming, co-presented two awards with the Colorado Hospital Association’s President and CEO, Steven Summer during a closed session at the 85th annual CHA meeting in Keystone, Colorado. This is the second year these donation awards have been presented, representing an ongoing partnership between the two organizations, local hospitals and medical leaders.

Swedish Medical Center, Littleton Adventist Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies were presented with Ending the Wait awards in appreciation for their extraordinary efforts in organ and tissue donation. Swedish Medical Center had 51 tissue donors in 2009 and 17 organ donors resulting in 58 organs transplanted. Littleton Adventist Hospital had 33 tissue donors in the same year and four organ donors with 13 organs transplanted. Medical Center of the Rockies was awarded for their groundbreaking Donor Memorial Garden.

Additionally, Donor Alliance presented Phillip Mehler M.D., chief medical officer of Denver Health Medical Center, with the Senior Leader award in appreciation for outstanding leadership in promoting organ and tissue donation.

“We are thrilled that we have been able to present awards to outstanding hospitals and individuals in partnership with the Colorado Hospital Association for the second year in a row,” said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “Colorado wants to maintain its high donation rates and it takes the leadership of hospitals like Swedish Medical Center, Littleton Adventist Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies to achieve this standard. We will continue to collaborate with the Colorado Hospital Association, hospitals, transplant centers and the Donate Life Colorado Donor Registry in working toward our ultimate goal of ending the wait for lifesaving organ transplants.”

“In 2009, Colorado’s donor designation rate ranked among the highest nationally, increasing to with 64 percent of people saying yes when renewing or receiving their driver’s license. Our goal is to continue this upward trend until we reach our state’s ultimate potential,” Dunn said.

Hospital Awarded – Organ Donors , Tissue DonorsSwedish Medical Center – 17, 51
Littleton Adventist Hospital- 4, 33
Medical Center of the Rockies- 2, 26*This data is provided by Donor Alliance for 2009.

Coloradans can register their decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in the following ways:
• Online at DonateLifeColorado.org
• At the Division of Motor Vehicles the next time you obtain or renew your driver’s license
• By calling 1-888-256-4386