Memorial University Medical Center (MUMC) was among a select group of hospitals nationwide to achieve Gold Level status, and one of only seven in Georgia to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for reaching gold, silver, and bronze levels of outreach for organ and tissue donation and registration.  MUMC earned gold recognition through the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign, a program launched in 2011 by HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Memorial conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors, thus increasing the number of potential donors on the state registry. Currently,123,161 patients in the U.S. are waiting on an organ donation, more than 2,800 of them in Georgia.

“The brave patients and families who chose to be organ donors expect us to honor their wishes. This recognition is one example of the magic they perform....saving lives.” said Mary Chatman, Ph.D., R.N.,  Memorial vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer.

 The Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign is a special effort to mobilize the nation’s hospitals to increase the number of registered organ, eye, and tissue donors. The campaign unites donation advocates at hospitals with representatives from their organ procurement organizations and state and regional hospital associations.

“This award is a reflection of the outstanding efforts of our team to increase education and understanding of the organ donation process with our patients, Team Members, and our community members,” said Maria Theron, R.N., executive director critical care at Memorial. Memorial works closely with LifeLink Foundation, a non-profit community service organization dedicated to the recovery of lifesaving and life-enhancing organs and tissue for transplantation therapy.