Atrium Health Navicent Earns National Recognition for Promoting Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation
3,600 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in Georgia
Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center and Atrium Health Navicent Peach have received national recognition for efforts to increase organ, eye and tissue donor registrations across the state through the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. The campaign 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 country in spreading the word about the importance of donation.
The WPFL Hospital Organ Donation Campaign challenges hospitals and health care 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. Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center earned platinum recognition, and Atrium Health Navicent Peach earned bronze recognition for conducting awareness and registry activities between October 2021 and April 2022, even as the hospitals continued to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are honored to receive this national recognition for the work our teammates do each day to improve health and wellness, elevate hope and advance healing for all,” said Atrium Health Navicent Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrice Walker. “Organ donation, and education about becoming a donor is part of our fight to save lives and provide excellent care. For patients and their loved ones, it can be a lifesaving gift to a stranger or a friend.”
Atrium Health Navicent worked with LifeLink® of Georgia, the local organ and tissue recovery organization, as well as Donate Life Georgia, the state organ and tissue donor registry, to leverage its outreach efforts. During the 2021-2022 campaign cycle, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center and Atrium Health Navicent Peach were among 87 participating hospital partners within the LifeLink® service area and 1,333 organizations across the nation to participate in the 2022 campaign that helped to add a collective 50,850 new donors to state registries. This campaign has generated over 630,000 registrations since its inception in 2011 and unites donation advocates at hospitals with representatives from their local organ recovery organizations.
"We are thankful for the dedication of Atrium Health Navicent staff who support our mission to save lives through organ donation. Their effort in organ and tissue donation education and registering donors is appreciated by the thousands who are currently on the transplant waiting list," said Chuck Massey, hospital development team leader for LifeLink of Georgia."We applaud Atrium Health Navicent for receiving this national recognition for their role in saving lives."
Currently, there are 3,600 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in Georgia. Everyone, regardless of their age or health can make their decision to become a registered organ and tissue donor when obtaining a driver license or state identification card through the Georgia Department of Driver Services, when purchasing a hunting or fishing license through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources or online at www.DonateLifeGeorgia.org.
For more information about the WPFL Hospital Organ Donation Campaign, visit www.organdonor.gov/hospitals.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About LifeLink of Georgia
LifeLink of Georgia is the state’s non-profit organ and tissue recovery organization which facilitates the recovery of life-saving and life-enhancing organs and tissues for transplantation therapy. LifeLink works to ensure Georgians are provided factual information about donation and understand how to designate their donation decision on the state’s organ and tissue donor registry.