Freeman Recognized for Organ and Tissue Donation

Freeman Health System was recognized by Midwest Transplant Network with an Excellence in Donation Award for organ and tissue donations. To be eligible, hospitals must have at least four eligible organ donors with a conversion rate of at least 80 percent, and at least 15 eligible tissue donors with a conversion rate of at least 40 percent.

Patients at Freeman, who donated the precious gift of life, enabled 26 organs to be transplanted in 2016, giving recipients a second chance at life. The organ conversion rate at Freeman in 2016 was 86 percent. The national goal for the same year was 75 percent.

Approximately 1,900 individuals also received the healing gift of tissue donation from Freeman patients. The national goal was 40 percent in 2016. Freeman exceeded the national goal with a tissue conversion rate of 47 percent.

Nationally, more than 120,000 people are waiting for an organ – one person is added to a waiting list every 10 minutes. By registering to be an organ donor, an individual can save as many as eight lives and directly improve the lives of up to 50 people through tissue donation. At the end of 2016, 73 percent of adults in Missouri are listed on the Missouri Donor Registry and 66 percent of adults in Kansas are listed on the Kansas Donor Registry. Individuals may register to be an organ and tissue donor by visiting donatelife.net.

Photo: (left to right) Rob Linderer, Midwest Transplant Network Chief Executive Officer; Roxanna Estes, RN, Freeman Family Care Specialist; Coleen Cameron, Freeman Chief Regulatory Officer; Cathy Lucchi, Midwest Transplant Network Hospital Services Coordinator; Jan Finn, Midwest Transplant Network Chief Operating Officer

About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2017, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman one of the top Hospitals in Southwest Missouri more than five years in a row, and the Leapfrog Group awarded Freeman the highest grade possible in the Spring 2017 Hospital Patient Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com, facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman at twitter.com/FreemanCares4U. Follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo.