MCCG Awarded for Organ Donation and Transplantation

MCCG Awarded for Organ Donation and Transplantation

Hospital Honored for Increasing National Donation Rate 

MACON, GA (Friday, May 10, 2013) –The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) with the Bronze Medal of Honor for Organ Donation for top tier organ donation rates.

Representatives of LifeLink of Georgia presented the staff of MCCG's Center for Palliative Care with the award that recognizes their dedication to continuing the lives of others by successfully increasing the number of organs available for transplant. The staff at MCCG received the award for achieving and sustaining national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more for eligible donors during the time period of April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2012.

“We are pleased that our organization has received this accolade for their tireless efforts. They are fighting for a good cause, the continuum of life. They are helping to perpetuate the cycle of life. It's just a beautiful thing, and we are very proud of their accomplishment,” said Tracey Blalock, Interim Chief Nursing Officer at MCCG.

According to LifeLink of Georgia, 116,995 people in the U.S. were awaiting various organ transplants – including kidney, liver, pancreas, intestine, heart and lung transplants – as of January 2013. Of that number, over 3,500 Georgians were awaiting an organ transplant. Through the efforts of healthcare workers like those at MCCG, approximately 28,000 transplants were performed in both 2010 and 2011, with approximately 14,000 people donating organs in each of those years.

In addition to MCCG, 404 other hospitals, 38 organ procurement organizations and 174 transplant programs nationwide were also awarded.

“I applaud these award winners for bringing the ‘gift of life' to so many. Their tireless efforts to make improvements in the donation and transplantation field will continue to help save lives,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H.