Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center has been honored with the 2021 Workplace Partnership for Life Platinum Award for its organ and tissue donation awareness program from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Platinum Award is the highest accolade granted by HRSA to hospitals who promote organ and tissue donation among their community and hospital.
The recognition is part of HRSA’s Workplace Partnership for Life initiative, launched in August 2014, which connects organ and tissue donation organizations with hospitals to create ongoing awareness and registry campaigns to educate team members, patients, visitors and community members. Raritan Bay Medical Center coordinates its outreach efforts with NJ Sharing Network, the nonprofit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue in the Garden State.
“We are proud to be recognized by HRSA for our ongoing partnership with NJ Sharing Network to save and enhance lives through organ donation and transplantation,” said William DiStanislao, interim president, chief hospital executive, Raritan Bay Medical Center. “There are nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. We must continue to raise awareness of this critically important issue, and remind our community that registering as an organ and tissue donor can help bring the gift of life to others.”
Throughout the past year, Raritan Bay Medical Center conducted multiple awareness and registry activities to encourage new donor registrations. Activities included both in-person and online campaigns to reach internal and external audiences.
“Raritan Bay Medical Center and our hospital partners are vital to our life-saving mission,” said Alyssa D’Addio, director, Hospital and Community Services, NJ Sharing Network. “We have been fortunate to work with Raritan Bay’s dedicated team members. They are truly great advocates and have shown great passion and energy in educating others about the power of donation and transplantation.”
One organ donor can save eight lives, and one tissue donor can enhance the lives of over 75 people. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.
About NJ Sharing Network
Currently celebrating its 35th anniversary, NJ Sharing Network is the federally designated non-profit organization responsible for recovering donated organs and tissue and providing hope for nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents currently waiting for a life-saving transplant and is part of the national recovery system for the over 100,000 people on the national waiting list. Last year, 233 generous individuals in New Jersey gave the gift of life, an all-time high for a single year. In addition, 42,112 eye and tissue donations healed and enhanced the quality of life for those in need. With headquarters in New Providence, NJ, the organization has been recognized by NJBIZ as one of the state’s “Best Places to Work” for four consecutive years. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.