Workplace Partnership for Life Campaign Gets Major Support From Hospitals

Public/Private effort encourages organizations to promote organ and tissue donation

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Eight organizations, including the American Hospital Association (AHA), have committed to sharing information and encouraging hospitals and health systems nationwide to promote organ and tissue donation by joining with the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as national partners in the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign.

While hospitals have worked with HRSA for years to increase the number of organs transplanted in their facilities, this new effort focuses on educating and encouraging patients, visitors, members of the community and their own staff and caregivers about the importance of joining organ and tissue donor registries to save lives.

"If we are going to increase the number of organ and tissue donors, we need partners across the country willing to deliver the message about the importance of donation," said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield.  "We all have to make strides to increase awareness of the great need for donor organs and tissues."

Today, more than 100 million Americans are currently on registries to become organ and tissue donors.  But with more than 112,000 people currently on waiting lists for organ transplantation, a number which continues to grow every year, more public participation is needed to help address the desperate need for donors.

"Americans of all ages and backgrounds can become organ and tissue donors," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh. "Everyone should consider the opportunity to give the gift of life."

Created by HRSA in 2001, the Workplace Partnership For Life has grown to include a network of more than 11,000 partner organizations at both the national and local level, working together to create a "donation-friendly America" by fostering outreach efforts to increase donation.

Workplace Partners sponsor events and activities, and use or customize materials and tools such as email blasts, fact sheets, newsletter articles, and Web banners available from HHS to encourage donation in their workplace. 

The following list includes the organizations joining the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign: 

• American Hospital Association
• American Society of Transplantation
• American Society of Transplant Surgeons
• Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation
• Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
• Donate Life America
• HRSA's Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice
• Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance

HRSA invites public and private organizations to become Workplace Partners.  For more information, along with links to materials your organization can use to educate your members about the critical need for organ and tissue donors, please visit: http://www.organdonor.gov/howhelp/workplace.html. 

For more information on organ donation, including links to connect you to your state's donor registry, visit www.organdonor.gov.

SOURCE Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)