Lakewood, NJ--- Every day, an average of 18
people die in the United States while waiting for an organ
transplant. In honor of National Donate Life Month,
Kimball Medical Center is working to increase awareness about
the lifesaving impact of organ donation.
Joan Ruane, RN is the Co-Chairperson of the Organ Donor
Council at Kimball Medical Center. “The Council
works in partnership with the New Jersey Tissue and Organ
Sharing Network – a non-profit, federally-certified
organ procurement organization – to facilitate organ
donation in the state,” she explains.
“Organ donation can offer families and loved ones
some measure of consolation as they struggle to cope with
a catastrophic loss. It can offer loved ones hope, knowing
that something good might come out of their loss,” explains
Ruane. “It is satisfying to know that through
the years, numerous people were helped – and that other
lives were saved – through the selfless donation of
these individuals and their families, and the efforts of
our team and the Sharing Network,” she adds.
Over the past several years there has been significant progress
in organ donation awareness, both nationally and on a local
basis. In New Jersey, individuals who wish to become organ
and tissue donors can register with the state’s donor
registry simply by checking off a box on their application
for a driver's license. According to the state’s registry,
22 percent of Ocean County drivers have already made the
designation for organ donation on their driver’s license.
While that convenience has most likely resulted in countless
lives saved, Ruane says there is still much work to be done.
“While there seems to be more of an awareness of the
importance of organ donation today,” she says, “currently
101,337 Americans on the waiting list for organ transplants,” she
says. “And 4,400 people are waiting for organ donations
in New Jersey alone,” she adds.
In an effort to increase awareness on a local level, Kimball
Medical Center is marking National Donate Life Month with
informational materials for staff and visitors, and educational
symposiums for its medical, nursing and support staff. The
goal of the awareness campaign, according to Ruane, will
be to encourage Kimball Medical Center staff to become organ
donors themselves and encourage their family and friends
to do the same. The hospital also hopes to raise the staff’s
awareness of the potential for organ donation in their day-to-day
practice.
“It’s important for all staff members to recognize
the clinical indictors that could identify a potential donor
situation,” explains Ruane. If a patient is identified – either
by a staff member or by a patient’s family – the
NJ Sharing Network is typically called in to interact with
the family and initiate the process. “Their representatives
are really tuned in to every aspect of helping families through
this process. They are caring, sensitive and handle the whole
experience with the utmost care and respect,” says
Ruane.
Donations, which are at the discretion of the donor, can
include the kidneys, pancreas, heart, lungs, liver, intestines,
heart valves, veins, tendons, skin, bone and corneas. “Thousands
of organ and tissue donations are needed every year in this
country to help save lives and maintain quality of life,” she
says. “In addition to replacing damaged organs such
as the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver, corneas are used
to help restore sight, skin grafts can help burn victims,
bones are used in spinal fusion, heart function can be restored
by replacing valves, and countless other donations
can be used to heal and restore the quality of life to millions,” says
Ruane. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing
(UNOS) one person has the potential to help as many as 50
people.
If you choose to be a donor, discuss your choice with people
who may be asked about your decision to be an organ donor – your
family, friends and doctor. “Making sure that the people
closest to you know about your decision to be an organ donor
can help ensure that your wishes are carried out,” adds
Ruane.
For information of National Donate Life Month events at
Kimball Medical Center call 1-888-SBHS-123. If you’d
like more information on becoming an organ donor, contact
the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network at 1-800-SHARE-NJ
or online at www.sharenj.org
Date: April 23, 2009
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
[ top ] [ Back
to News Index ] |
|
|
