U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RECOGNIZES HUNTINGTON HOSPITAL FOR HIGH ORGAN DONATION RATES
Huntington Receives Gold Medal for Excellence
PASADENA, CA � October 1, 2009 � The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) honored Huntington Memorial Hospital and 18 other hospitals throughout the seven-county greater Los Angeles area for excellence in supporting organ donation. The HHS Medal of Honor is awarded in four categories to hospitals with a minimum of eight potential organ donors during a 12-month period.
The Gold Medal is awarded to hospitals that meet or exceed three national goals during the
12-month measurement period: an organ donation conversion rate of 75 percent or more; greater than 3.75 organs transplanted per donor (OTPD); and at least 10% of all donors recovered via donation after cardiac death (DCD). The other medals (Silver I, Silver II and Bronze) award the achievement of one or two of the three national goals.
The three area hospitals awarded Gold Medals were Huntington Hospital, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and Western Medical Center Santa Ana.
"Huntington Hospital is committed to actively participating in the rewarding process of organ donation. Not only does it save thousands of lives each year, but it provides a healing path for all involved. We are immensely proud of our program here at Huntington, and of the work done each year by our partner, OneLegacy," said Bonnie Kass, chief nursing officer at Huntington.
Having so many area hospitals recognized reflects the success of the partnership between OneLegacy and hospitals energized by the national Organ Donation and Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative, an initiative launched by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services in 2003 to save and enhance thousands of lives annually by spreading best practices to the nation's largest hospitals.
Throughout OneLegacy's seven-county service area, the donation conversion rate for the award period of July 1, 2007 to April 30, 2009 was 64%, with 2,396 organs transplanted from 691 recovered organ donors. The conversion rate refers to the number of organ donors recovered as a percentage of all eligible potential donors.
"Thanks to the generosity of donor families and registered donors, our collaboration with hospitals and transplant centers, and the skill of OneLegacy's donation professionals, we are answering the needs of the more than 103,000 people nationwide awaiting life-saving transplants," stated Tom Mone, executive vice president and chief executive officer of OneLegacy.
Huntington Hospital is a 636-bed not-for-profit hospital that is home to the only trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley. Renowned for its programs in cancer care, neurosciences and cardiovascular services, Huntington is an active teaching hospital with Graduate Medical Education programs in internal medicine and general surgery. The hospital has a regional neonatal intensive care unit, treating babies with the highest acuity. For over 117 years, Huntington has been committed to serving its community with excellence, compassion and respect. Consistent with its mission, Huntington provides millions of dollars in charity care, benefits for vulnerable populations, health research, education and training and supports programs that may otherwise be absent from the community, including geriatric psychiatric services, children's asthma management and diabetes workshops in English and Spanish.