Hospital honored for donor program

Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC) was among a select group of hospitals recognized nationwide for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries in a national campaign sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The campaign has added more than 400,000 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide since 2011.

The local hospital conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors to increase the number of potential donors on the state’s registry. The hospital also earned points for each activity implemented between October 2016 and April 2017 and was awarded Platinum recognition through the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign.

Sierra View Medical Center partnered on the campaign with Donor Network West, the federally designated organ and tissue donation procurement organization, serving 40 counties and 13 million people in California and Nevada. At the time of donation, Donor Network West is the critical link between the hospital, the donor family and those awaiting the Gift of Life.

“The collaborative partnership we have with Donor Network West to save and heal lives is an important service for our community,” said Sierra View CEO Donna Hefner. “We are proud to be recognized for helping to provide education about the importance of registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.”

The Sierra View team reached this level by holding direct donor registry events, providing education and information about donation and using their social media platforms to inform the community about donation throughout the campaign. However, the local hospital is working towards surpassing their campaign achievements and saving lives through organ donation year-round.