Hospital Recognized Nationally for Promoting Organ, Eye, And Tissue Donation

ORANGE CITY, Fla., December 20, 2016 Florida Hospital Fish Memorial has received the bronze award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for their efforts in encouraging enrollment in Florida's organ donor registries.

Throughout the year, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial led awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors, and community members about the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donors and, by doing so, increased the number of potential donors on Florida's donor registry. The hospital earned points for each activity implemented between May 2015 and April 2016 and was awarded bronze-level recognition through the HRSA Workplace Partnership for Life hospital campaign.

Of the 995 hospitals participating in the campaign, 207 were awarded bronze recognition during this phase of the campaign. To see the full list of recognized hospitals, click here.

The Workplace Partnership for Life hospital campaign is a special effort of HRSA to mobilize the nations 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.

Florida Hospital Fish Memorial worked with TransLife on the campaign. TransLife is east-Central Florida's federally-designated organ and tissue donation program agency, covering 10 counties and partnering with more than 40 hospitals. At the time of donation, TransLife serves as a critical link between the hospital, the donor family and those awaiting the gift of life.

This national recognition is extraordinary because it is indicative of the strong partners we have in our community who are committed to sharing the message of hope through organ, eye and tissue donation education, said David DeStefano, TransLife's Executive director. We are proud of the work Florida Hospital Fish Memorial has done to educate our community and look forward to continuing this shared message of hope in the future.

About TransLife

TransLife is east-Central Florida's federally-designated organ and tissue donation program, covering 10 counties and partnering with more than 45 hospitals. We are dedicated to saving and improving lives through organ and tissue donation and public education, while honoring all donors and their loved ones whose generosity makes the gift of life possible.

About Florida Hospital Fish Memorial

Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is a member of Adventist Health System, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 175-beds, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial is one of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the Florida Hospital East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region has 923 beds and more than 6,000 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements.