Conemaugh Health System Receives Statewide Recognition for Donor Awareness Work
August 18, 2024
Conemaugh Health System received statewide recognition for its efforts to support and raise awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. CHS is among the three top-performing health systems in the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) and The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s (HAP) 2024 Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge.
The annual campaign encourages Pennsylvania hospitals to increase organ, eye, and tissue donation awareness within their hospitals and communities. To support the challenge, HAP partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the two organ procurement organizations that service Pennsylvania: CORE and the Gift of Life Donor Program.
All four Conemaugh Health System facilities were among the 54 hospitals that received individual recognition from CORE and HAP. Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown received titanium recognition, the highest recognition awarded for the HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge. Conemaugh Meyersdale Medical Center, Conemaugh Miners Medical Center, and Conemaugh Nason Medical Center were all awarded a platinum designation, the second-highest award.
“This achievement reflects our firm commitment to saving lives and supporting families through organ, tissue, and eye donation,” said CMMC Nursing Practice Manager and CORE Advisory Council Representative Kristin Bigam. “It's a testament to our staff's dedication and strong community partnerships in raising awareness and inspiring action. We are proud to lead by example and make a life-saving difference."
To achieve recognition, hospitals must demonstrate their commitment to raising awareness of organ, eye, and tissue donation through events, ceremonies, community partnerships, and more. Each unique opportunity is given a numerical value. Hospitals are then recognized at different levels based on their unique score.
“One of the most unique opportunities Conemaugh had this year was to partner with the Johnstown Area Heritage Association to light up the historic Stonebridge in downtown Johnstown,” said Bigam.
The Stonebridge was lit in blue and green to mark the beginning of Donate Life Month in April and again for Blue and Green Day on April 12.
“It was a profound showing of support for this lifesaving care not just at our hospital, but in our community.”
HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings said, “HAP commends Pennsylvania hospitals and our partners for their terrific work to support and raise awareness about organ donation. The level of participation in the challenge shows hospital teams' commitment and dedication to their communities' health. Increasing the number of organ, eye, and tissue donors is critical to helping hospital teams save and improve lives.”
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 100,000 people in the US are awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Nearly 7,000 people in the state of Pennsylvania are on that list. In 2023, more than 2,100 transplants were performed in Pennsylvania; over 1,100 were kidney transplants, the most common organ transplant surgery needed.