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Monday, November 06, 2006

UMC Accepts National Recognition Award for its Organ Donor Program

While local organization honors UMC CEO Lacy Thomas in a“Roast & Toast”

University Medical Center (UMC) is receiving two honors for its organ donor programs and education efforts from the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative and the Second Chance Foundation of Nevada.

UMC’s Chief Executive Officer Lacy Thomas recently accepted the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative national award in New Orleans. This award gave UMC’s organ donor program “honor roll” status, a recognition achieved by approximately 300 hospitals nationwide, out of 6,000 eligible hospitals. This status is assigned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where UMC achieved a 76 percent conversion rate, or 32 out of a potential 42 donors.

A hospital must have at least eight potential organ donors and a 75 percent conversion rate for a 12-month period to be listed on the honor roll. The conversion rate is determined by the number of eligible donors versus the number of actual consents for donation. The comparable national rate is 58 percent. The overall average for Southern Nevada hospitals was 50 percent.

In 2003, UMC joined the Organ Donation Breakthrough Collaborative, which was formed by the federal government to increase organ donation throughout the U.S. It identified 100 hospitals that had the necessary
requirements, such as a successful organ transplant program, to begin implementing the mandate.

There are currently more than 93,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for an organ transplant.

“The success of our program is due to a comprehensive approach and the inclusion of not only doctors, but nurses, social workers and other staff,” said Thomas. “We have worked closely with our community partners to identify potential donors and refer them appropriately to increase the conversion rate. I’m very honored that UMC is being recognized and am dedicated to providing Nevadans with quality health care choices.”

In addition to the national award, The Second Chance Foundation of Nevada, a Las Vegas-based non-profit agency that supports organ donor education, is also recognizing UMC’s efforts. On Saturday, Nov. 11, Thomas will be honored during the organization’s 2nd annual “Roast & Toast” event.

The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Red Rock Casino, and includes a silent auction, dinner and dessert and the comical relief of Flamingo entertainer George Wallace. The evening will conclude with Thomas’s closest friends and community constituents humorously recognizing his accomplishment. Tickets are $250 and can be purchased by calling the Second Chance Foundation at 369-5876. Proceeds will benefit the Second Chance Foundation of Nevada. This event is open to the public.

Contact Information:
Kristina Zemaitis , Public Relations Specialist
(702) 383-2090
kristina.zemaitis@umcsn.com
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102