October 30, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sue Poveromo
Communications Editor
LifePoint, Inc.
4200 Faber Place Drive
Charleston, S.C. 29405
Toll-free: 1-800-462-0755
Telephone: 843-763-7755
Cell: 804-357-9234
Fax: 843-763-6393
poveromos@lifepoint-sc.org
www.lifepoint-sc.org

HHS Honors Six South Carolina Hospitals That Raised Organ Donation Rates

Six South Carolina hospitals have been honored by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for substantially raising the organ donation rates of eligible donors from their facilities. Awards went to AnMed Health Medical Center (Anderson), Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston), McLeod Regional Medical Center (Florence), Greenville Memorial Hospital (Greenville), Grand Strand Regional Medical Center (Myrtle Beach) and Spartanburg Regional Medical Center (Spartanburg).

In addition, LifePoint - South Carolina’s organ procurement organization (OPO) – was among only 13 of the 58 OPOs in the U.S. recognized for achieving a 75% donation rate for 12 consecutive months throughout their entire service areas.

Hospital representatives, together with representatives from LifePoint, accepted the Department’s Medals of Honor for Organ Donation during an Oct. 19 national meeting in New Orleans of the Second National Learning Congress on Organ Donation and Transplantation.
The S.C. hospitals and LifePoint, along with other U.S. hospitals and OPOs from throughout the country, were cited for achieving and sustaining a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors. By contrast, the national average donation rate in all hospitals was 59 percent in 2005, up from 55 percent in 2004. OPOs coordinate organ procurement in designated service areas and work to preserve organs and arrange for their distribution according to national policies.

“The work of these hospitals and OPOs [throughout the U.S.] made possible 1,200 more life-saving and life-enhancing transplants in 2005 compared to 2004,” said Elizabeth M. Duke, administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, which houses the federal government’s pro-donation activities. “Their achievements show that we can improve systems to boost donation rates and save more lives in the future.”

Hospitals with eight or more potential organ donors during the 26-month award period ending in June 2006 were eligible for the Medals of Honor. All winning hospitals had to achieve and sustain a donation rate of 75 percent or more from among eligible donors for at least a year.

The majority of S.C. donor hospitals had an increased number of donors last year. “We are very pleased and proud that some of the many hospital staffs that we work with throughout South Carolina have received the recognition they deserve,” said Steve Pitzer, Vice President, LifePoint Organ Recovery Division. “We are fortunate that they understand the benefits of donation to donor families and recipients. The hospitals work collaboratively with our LifePoint employees to provide organ and tissue donation opportunities to families of potential donors at the appropriate time.”

Nancy Kay, LifePoint CEO and President, said, “These hospital staffs in South Carolina are committed to learning and implementing nationally-recognized best practices to further donation. And we couldn’t do our job of helping to save lives through donation without their ongoing dedication to this important work.”

"As we celebrate these outstanding accomplishments, let us remember that behind each number is a human face: an individual who has made a gift of life by becoming an organ donor, and the people who have benefited from a life-giving, life-enhancing transplant,” relates RADM Kenneth Moritsugu, Acting U.S. Surgeon General. “The success of these dedicated professionals through this collaborative is helping save more lives, and increasing the quality and length of life for more people. It is only fitting that we recognize their exceptional efforts through this HHS Medal of Honor for Organ Donation.”

For more information about organ and tissue donation and to become a donor, visit www.lifepoint-sc.org.

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