Nebraska Organ Recovery System (NORS) Among Nationally Recognized

HHS Honors Select Programs for Their Achievements in Organ Donation and Transplantation

OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nebraska Organ Recovery System (NORS) today received an award and national recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its achievements and success in increasing the number of organs available and transplanted. NORS was among 404 hospitals, 38 organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and 174 transplant programs honored for increasing the number of organs available and transplanted. Annually, organ donation saves more than 28,000 lives in the U.S.

OPOs, like NORS, were recognized for their efforts based on their performance for achieving and sustaining national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors. Awards were presented for the work done between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2012.

"Each day, organizations such as NORS bring the 'gift of life' to so many in need in communities across America," says NORS Interim Executive Director Kyle Herber. "Through years of hard work in improving the donation and transplant process, we continue to save lives."

Serving about 1.7 million people throughout all of Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa, NORS works to maximize the recovery and quality of organs and tissues for transplantation, while maintaining a sensitivity, compassion and respect for people of all cultures. NORS works with hospital staff and donor families to facilitate the donation process in hospitals.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at HHS supports the Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice, which brings together donation and transplantation professionals, hospital staff, and other professionals involved in the donation process to identify and share best practices. HRSA is also in the midst of a National Hospital Organ Donation Campaign, which enlists the help of hospitals across the country in increasing the number of people who enroll as future donors on their state donor registry.

HRSA, which leads federal efforts to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation, provides federal oversight of the nation's organ donation and transplantation network. www.organdonor.gov.

Nebraska Organ Recovery System (NORS) is the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Formed in 1977, NORS is a not-for-profit agency that is independent of any hospital or transplant center. http://www.nedonation.org/

SOURCE Nebraska Organ Recovery System