Children’s Minnesota has earned platinum level recognition for its efforts to increase organ, eye, and tissue donor registrations across the state through the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. The WPFL is a national initiative that unites the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the organ donation community with workplaces across the nation in spreading the word about the importance of donation.
The WPFL Hospital Organ Donation Campaign challenges hospitals and healthcare organizations to “let life bloom” by educating their staff, patients, visitors, and communities about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation, including offering opportunities to register as organ donors. Children’s Minnesota earned points for conducting awareness and registry activities between October 2019 and April 2020 and prompting 12 new donor registrations during that time period.
Children’s Minnesota was one of 1,700 organizations to participate in the 2020 campaign. See the full list of hospitals recognized.
“Organ and tissue donation is the most generous gift families can make, especially in pediatrics,” said Emily Chapman, MD, senior vice president medical affairs and chief medical officer. “Many of us know someone who has benefited from the generosity of a donation, and many of us have cared for patients who are with us thanks to donation. It’s a privilege to support families in making that gift in partnership with LifeSource and Lions Gift of Sight, and we’re honored to be recognized for our role in making donation available.”
The 2020 Hospital Campaign efforts added 59,662 registrations to state registries, including registrations from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since its inception in 2011, the campaign has generated 552,026 registrations as well as united donation advocates at hospitals with representatives from their local organ procurement organizations, Donate Life America affiliates, and state and regional hospital associations. Children’s Minnesota works collaboratively with LifeSource and Lions Gift of Sight to support organ, tissue, and eye donation.
Every ten minutes, another person is added to the organ transplant waiting list, reaffirming the critical and growing need for registered organ, eye, and tissue donors.
Dina Elrashidy