Operational Excellence

October 13, 2009

HHS Recognizes Two Kaiser Permanente Hospitals for Organ Donation Rates

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services honors Kaiser Permanente's Redwood City and San Jose Hospitals for their successful organ donation efforts

OAKLAND, Calif. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services presented awards on Sept. 30 to two Kaiser Permanente hospitals for their success in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation. Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center were among the 428 hospitals nationwide to be recognized by HHS at the Fifth National Learning Congress for the Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice held in Grapevine, Texas, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.

"Today we honor the partners who have collectively demonstrated extraordinary acts of humanity," said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH. "We are humbled to recognize these public health stewards who offer such profound service to society."

Each of the 428 winning hospitals had eight or more eligible organ donors during the 22-month award period ending in April 2009. Dr. Koh presented the awards to these hospitals based on their performance in improving donation rates, increasing the number of organs donated per individual donor to 3.75 or higher, and expanding clinical processes for recovering organs.

Both Kaiser Permanente Redwood City and San Jose Hospitals were honored by HHS this week for outstanding progress in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation and achieving and sustaining national goals for donations, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors at each facility. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente Redwood City was acknowledged for the number of organs that were harvested from each donor. To achieve these numbers, both hospitals engaged in educating staff and physicians about the need for organ donations, and they also developed strong working relationships with their local Organ Procurement Organizations. It is the OPO that provides the physician staff to harvest the organs.

"These hospitals have made incredible progress in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation," said Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., administrator of HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration, which leads federal efforts to increase organ and tissue donation. "Their efforts reflect the heights Americans can reach when they work together toward a common goal."

"Kaiser Permanente is a proud sponsor of HHS's Workplace Partnership for Life campaign, which is aimed at increasing awareness for the need for organ donors. We have taken ownership of improving donation rates both within our own family and nationally," said Christy Edwards, director of the National Transplant Network at Kaiser Permanente. "Improving organ donation rates benefit not only the Kaiser Permanente family, but the larger community as well. Organs come from individuals who have agreed to be donors or from families, who in the midst of their sorrow, elect to share the gift of life with others. There are more than 104,000 people awaiting a new life through organ donation. Their second chance at life is made possible because of the ultimate gesture of humanity from donors."

HRSA's Donation and Transplantation Community of Practice brings together donation and transplantation professionals and hospital leaders to identify and share best practices to integrate organ donation into hospitals' end-of-life care. This year's event recognizes the importance of including donor designation specialists in hospitals' efforts to increase donation rates at their facilities. The commitment of the individuals and organizations comprising the Community of Practice has helped make possible the transplant of 3,088 more organs from deceased donors in 2008 than in 2003.

For more information, contact Keith Paulsen (Kaiser Permanente) at 510-625-5667, or the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration Press Office at 301-443-3376.