We are committed to providing our medical and hospital partners with information on donation and transplantation to help advance donation and improve donation outcomes. Follow the links below to stay abreast of the latest news affecting you.
Healthcare POA Form Could Put Donation Desires at Risk
Gift of Hope is encouraging its donor hospitals to revisit the intent of the State of Illinois’ healthcare power of attorney (POA) short form to better understand how it can impact donation. Depending on if, when and how the POA is completed, a person may unknowingly put his or her desire to be an organ and tissue donor at risk. To avoid this problem, hospital staff must have a clear understanding of the POA’s intent and the potential ramifications of having a patient initial and sign a POA if he or she has previously registered in the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry. They also must explain these ramifications to patients and family members when they distribute POAs to patients.
New Hospital Development Region Created
Gift of Hope has created a new Hospital Development region to enhance its professional connection with donor hospitals in northwest Illinois. The new regional team includes a Donation Specialist and a Donation Coordinator who will work in Rockford and the surrounding area.
NorthShore Salutes Volunteer for Donation Support Work
NorthShore University HealthSystem presented Gift of Hope volunteer and NorthShore staff member Julie Prangl with a Sharing Spirit Award in October to recognize her efforts to advance donation as both an employee at NorthShore and a volunteer for Gift of Hope.
Donate Life Rose Parade Festivities Honor Local Hero
The life, legacy and selfless gifts of Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez were honored during the 2012 Donate Life Rose Parade festivities in Pasadena in the days surrounding New Year’s Day. Paco, a professional boxer whose story aired nationally and locally on ESPN and NBC last April, gave life to five people through organ donation after his tragic death in a 2009 title bout. The Donate Life Rose Parade float honored him with a floragraph—his portrait made from floral and other organic materials. Paco’s floragraph joined more than 70 others honoring donors from around the country.
Take a Virtual Tour of Our In-House Recovery Suite
Gift of Hope now performs organ recoveries in our In-House Organ Recovery Suite in Itasca, expanding on the In-House Tissue Recovery Program we have been operating since 2006. The In-House Organ Recovery Program is designed to maximize donation opportunities and make more lifesaving organs available for transplantation.
Advocate Condell Dedicates Legacy of Life Wall
Advocate Condell Medical Center dedicated a Legacy of Life Wall in June to honor patients who have saved lives through organ donation. Nearly 20 families were invited to take part in the private dedication of the wall, which lists the names of the donors and the dates of their gifts. The Legacy of Life Wall commemorates those who are no longer with us, but whose legacy lives on in others.
OSF Saint Anthony Joins Gift of Hope Network
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center’s request to join Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network. The decision comes after more than a year of work to convince CMS that moving OSF Saint Anthony into Gift of Hope’s network would produce greater benefits for people waiting for lifesaving or life-enhancing organ and tissue transplants.
