Organ Donation Goes Mobile in Utah with Intermountain Donor Services

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In an effort to save lives, Intermountain Donor Services will unveil their plan to use the trend toward new cutting-edge technology on Tuesday, December 21, 10:00 am at the Corporate Alliance Offices, Innovation Room, 7730 Union Park Avenue, Midvale.

Smartphone sales grew 96 percent in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to the third quarter of 2009. Millions of Americans stay connected on the go by having news alerts, emails, etc. sent directly to their phones.

“Technology is changing the way the world operates,” said Alex McDonald, Public Education Director for Intermountain Donor Services. “Intermountain Donor Services is using these technological advances to make it easier for people to make their organ donation wishes known. With the number of people who now have a Smartphone and media tablets, we want to limit the excuses for those that have not registered on the Yes Utah Organ Donor Registry. People will be able to register while waiting in line, watching the kids play at the park, or attending a sporting event. It’s that easy.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Intermountain Donor Services in the past as they set up their Facebook page, blog and Twitter,” said Phil Case, Fluid Studio. “I was excited when they contacted me regarding their latest innovation. To my knowledge, no other donor registry in the country is utilizing this technology.” Fluid Studio is a marketing company in Bountiful, Utah that focuses on social media.

Pete Ashdown, Founder and President of Xmission, Utah’s oldest commercial Internet service provider, will be present at the unveiling of this newest innovation to save lives. He states, “Technology has done so much to make our lives easier. It is even more exciting to me when technology is able to save lives.”

The new mobile technology that will be unveiled will make it easier than ever for those who have meant to sign up on the donor registry, but haven’t found the time. Surveys show that 95 percent of all Utahns believe that organ donation is important; however, only about 75 percent of Utahns have actually registered on their driver's license or online. To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation, log on to www.yesutah.org from your Smartphone or mobile Internet device or text the word “donor” to 91011.