Norfolk, VA - August 21, 2003 - Sentara Healthcare joins long-time associate LifeNet, a non-profit agency that coordinates organ and tissue donation in Virginia, in an outreach effort known as the Workplace Partnership Program. The program is aimed at increasing employee awareness about organ and tissue donation.
Currently Virginia is experiencing an organ donation shortage while about 2,000 Virginians await life-saving organs. Today in Richmond, Governor Mark R. Warner endorsed the on-line donor registry made possible by legislation passed in 2000 by the Virginia General Assembly.
As Hampton Roads' first workplace partner, Sentara supports the program's goals of educating employees about organ donation and promoting Virginia's new website, www.save7lives.org, named for the number of lives that can be saved by one donor's choice. At the new website, decisions about organ donation can be made online at a secure, convenient location as an alternative to going through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Vice President of Human Resources Michael V. Taylor said, "Given the work done through the Sentara Transplant Center during the last 30 years, it's a natural for us to support educating employees about organ and tissue donation." Taylor continues, "Many of our employees see first hand the difference organ and tissue donation decisions can make."
Sentara plans to reach its 15,000 employees and the community by providing information about organ and tissue donation on its Website at
www.sentara.com, its intranet, and other employee communication vehicles.
About Sentara's Transplant Center
Sentara Healthcare's Transplant Center, which accepts organs from LifeNet and other similar organ procurement organization, is located at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and was established more than 30 years ago. Recognized as a comprehensive solid organ transplant center, the Transplant Center has been involved in more than 1,400 transplants and currently performs kidney, heart, lung, and heart/lung transplants. Sentara's program is committed to providing health care options to the residents of Hampton Roads by offering patients in need of solid organ transplantation the best outcomes, local access, and superior customer service.
About LifeNet LifeNet, a non-profit agency that coordinates organ and tissue donation in Virginia, provides aftercare for donor families and teaches the public about donation. According to LifeNet, only 28% of all Virginians are signed up as organ and tissue donors to pass along the gift of life when they die.