PARIS, TN – Henry County Medical Center has earned national 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. Henry County Medical Center earned Platinum recognition for conducting awareness and registry activities between October 2020 and April 2021, promoting new donor registrations during that time period, and for responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and navigating those changes and challenges.
HCMC was one of 1,657 organization to participate in the 2021 campaign. Hospitals can be awarded bronze, silver, gold and platinum designations for their participation. This year, HCMC received platinum designation.
“This year with COVID-19, it was more difficult to get the word out about organ donation,” said Lori Stambaugh, RN, BSN, Community Education. “But with Facebook Lives, social media, and our education with staff, we were able to achieve staff and community awareness of the critical need for donors. We are very honored to receive this recognition.”
This campaign is a special effort of HRSA’s Workplace Partnership for Life to mobilize the nation’s hospitals to increase the number of people in the country who are registered organ, eye, and tissue donors and ultimately, the number of organs available for transplant. The campaign unites donation advocates at hospitals with representatives from their local organ procurement organizations, Donate Life America affiliates, and state and regional hospital associations. Working together, the teams leverage their communications resources and outreach efforts to most effectively spread word of the critical need for donors.
The 2021 Hospital Campaign efforts added 27,386 registrations to state registries, including registrations from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since its inception in 2011, the campaign has generated 579,412 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. HCMC worked with Tennessee Donor Services to leverage its outreach efforts.
Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the organ transplant list, reaffirming the critical and growing need for registered organ, eye, and tissue donors. For more information about the Hospital Campaign, visit www.organdonor.gov/hospitals.
One person alone can save up to eight lives through the donation of lungs, liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and intestines, while a tissue donor can impact over 50 or more people.
For more information about donor services or HCMC, check out our website at www.hcmc-tn.org.
About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: http://www.hcmc-tn.org.