Press Releases (2010)

Elkhart General Blood Donor Center Receives Award
June 22, 2010

ELKHART, IN – The Blood Donor Center at Elkhart General Hospital recently received awards from the Indiana Procurement Organization (IOPO) and the Indiana Lions Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank.

The Blood Donor Center was recognized for achieving excellence in organ donation at the 2010 Indiana Donation Collaborative, held May 3 and 4, sponsored by the Indiana Procurement Organization (IOPO).

“Each award level is tied to criteria that results in more organ donors and/or more organs transplanted from each donor,” said Sam Davis, Director of Professional Services and Public Affairs at Indiana Procurement Organization (IOPO) who sponsored the two-day donation symposium. “It’s a collaborative effort and recognizes the hospitals and their staff for working to achieving life saving results.”

The organ and tissue donation symposium provides a forum for hospital professionals to share information, review data and exchange ideas on improving donation within their hospitals.

The Blood Donor Center also received a “SIGHTation of Merit” award from Indiana Lions Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank in recognition for their dedication and commitment to donation and transplant.

For additional information, please contact Community Relations at (574) 523-3303 or visit www.egh.org.

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About Elkhart General Hospital
Elkhart General Hospital is an independent, not-for-profit hospital located in Elkhart, Indiana. The full-service, 325-bed main hospital is comprised of 330 physicians representing 30 medical specialties, and over 2,000 employees serving in nursing, technical, administrative, and support capacities. The Elkhart General Hospital website is www.egh.org.

About Indiana Organ Procurement Organization
In 1987, Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, Inc. (IOPO) formed as a result of the merging of organ procurement programs from Indiana University Medical Center and Methodist Hospital of Indiana. The Indiana Organ Procurement Organization (IOPO) is a non-profit health service dedicated to advancing organ, tissue, and eye donation throughout Indiana.

The mission of IOPO is to save and enhance the quality of life through organ, tissue and eye donation. Their vision is to create the most effective and influential donation and transplantation delivery model in healthcare.

About Indiana Lions Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank (ILETTB)
Since 1959, Indiana Lions Eye & Tissue Transplant Bank has restored vision to over 20,000 individuals who have suffered from corneal blindness as a result from injuries or disease. As the primary supplier of cornea tissue in Indiana, the ILETTB will provide over 1900 corneas for transplant in 2009. In addition to their ocular services, they are also a tissue bank providing full recovery and distribution services to Indiana hospitals.

Since their inception, ILETTB has been committed to serving the needs of Indiana residents not only with readily available tissue to improve their lives, but tissue for research and education that may one day eliminate an eye disease or improve upon an existing surgical procedure. The ILETTB has donated millions of dollars in grants and fellowships.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Peggy Randolph
Elkhart General Hospital, Project Coordinator
Phone (574) 523-3303
Email prandolph@egh.org
Website www.egh.org