For the 12th consecutive year, Gift of Life Donor Program is the nation's leading organ procurement organization (OPO), coordinating the most life-saving organs for transplant among all 58 U.S. OPOs.
Gift of Life once again broke two national records in 2019, with the highest annual totals for organ donors and transplants ever recorded for a U.S.-based OPO. Gift of Life region led the nation in:
- Most organ donors - coordinated life-saving gifts from 664 organ donors
- Most organs transplanted - donations resulted in 1,865 organs transplanted
Gift of Life's annual donation rate, 59 organ donors-per-million-population, and annual transplant rate, 167 transplants-per-million population, both rank among the highest in the world.
"Every day, our dedicated staff works around the clock to do everything they can to save the lives of the more than 5,000 men, women and children in our region waiting for a life-saving organ," said Gift of Life President and CEO Howard M. Nathan. "They are supported by the most generous community in the country and the nation's foremost hospitals and transplant centers. Together, we have created an international model of compassionate care, clinical excellence and community partnership."
In 2019, Gift of Life also recovered life-enhancing tissue from 2,677 donors, including 1,305 musculoskeletal donors and 2,234 cornea donors. These donations can benefit more than 100,000 people, with bone donations for orthopedic and sports injuries, skin donations to heal burn patients and for reconstructive surgery, heart valve donations to repair life-threatening defects and corneas to provide the gift of sight.
Leader in Building Community
Gift of Life partners with 128 acute care hospitals and 15 transplant centers across its region in its life-saving work.
"Through our shared mission of saving lives and providing compassionate care, Gift of Life staff and hospital critical care teams work 24/7 to ensure that families have the opportunity to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation," said Gift of Life Vice President of Clinical Services Richard D. Hasz. "These extraordinary partnerships of dedicated and committed professionals build a strong culture of donation throughout our region." Gift of Life annually recognizes hospitals with its Gift of Life Award for championing organ donation.
Approximately 113,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ in the U.S. and every day, 20 people die waiting. In Gift of Life's region, which encompasses the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, there are currently more than 5,000 men, women and children awaiting a life-saving transplant. The percentage of people registered as organ donors through their states' driver's license registries are: 49.4 percent in Pennsylvania, 36 percent in New Jersey and 52 percent in Delaware.
"We are so privileged to serve the community that is the most generous region in the country for donation," said Gift of Life Vice President of Administration & General Counsel Jan L. Weinstock, Esq. "Yet the need for increased communication and advocacy about the shortage of organs for transplant remains a critical public health issue. We urge everyone to register as a donor and join our mission. Our vision is that one day, no one will die waiting for an organ."
Leader in Community Support
As a leading region for healthcare, Philadelphia is a destination for transplant patients. Gift of Life Family House provides affordable lodging, meals and supportive services for transplant patients and their families. In 2019, Gift of Life Family House staff and volunteers provided 9,401 lodging nights of care for 16,840 guests, 33,680 meals, and 1,164 rides to and from hospitals. Since its opening in July 2011, with community support, the Family House has provided 66,326 lodging nights for 121,682 guests, served more than 243,364 meals and provided more than $9.3...
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