Phoebe recognized for commitment to organ donation

ALBANY – Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and Phoebe Sumter Medical Center received national recognition for the hospitals’ commitment to increasing organ, eye and tissue donor registrations across Georgia as part of the DoNation Campaign. The initiative unites workplaces from diverse industries and highlights the life-saving impact of organ and tissue donation.

In collaboration with LifeLink of Georgia, the local organ and tissue recovery organization, and Donate Life Georgia, the state’s organ and tissue donor registry, PPMH earned platinum honors – the highest recognition – and PSMC earned bronze honors for educating the public and boosting new donor registrations throughout the 2023-2024 campaign cycle, from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30.

Phoebe held numerous events that brought attention to organ donation, including honor walks and Donate Life flag raising ceremonies to honor organ donors and their families. Phoebe also set up donor registration tables, shared information on social media and through community outreach, and sponsored a Donate Life-themed spirit week to inspire Phoebe employees and hospital visitors to join the donor registry.

“At Phoebe, we are honored to support a mission that reflects the ultimate gift of compassion and humanity — organ and tissue donation,” Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dianna Grant said. “Through education and awareness, we hope to inspire our communities to embrace the opportunity to bring hope and healing to those in need of lifesaving transplants.”

Currently, more than 103,000 people across the U.S. are waiting for a life-saving transplant, including more than 3,000 individuals in Georgia. Every day, 17 people lose their lives because an organ wasn’t available in time, and every nine minutes, another person is added to the waiting list. The ongoing need highlights the importance of having more registered donors, and Phoebe is making it easier for people to take that step.

Georgians can register as donors when renewing a driver’s license, purchasing a hunting or fishing license, or by visiting www.DonateLifeGeorgia.org. For more information about the DoNation Campaign, visit www.organdonor.gov/professionals/workplace.

Special Photo: Phoebe