Hospital recognized with Governor's Award for Life

                The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), a federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization serving Pennsylvania, West Virginia and parts of New York, recently recognized Mon General Hospital with the West Virginia Governor’s Award for Life 2012.

                The award recognizes hospitals that have been successful in supporting organ, tissue and cornea donation within their own health care facilities and have achieved increased donation rates as a result.  The award was presented during the West Virginia Hospital Association’s annual meeting on September 27, 2012 at the Greenbrier Resort.

                Mon General was one of 19 West Virginia Hospitals to receive the award.  “At CORE, we are pleased to recognize these West Virginia hospitals for their ongoing commitment to organ, tissue and cornea donation,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE.  “As a result of their efforts, more lives are able to be saved or enhanced through organ, tissue and cornea donation in West Virginia.”  

                With the support of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, former governor of West Virginia, the West Virginia Governor’s Award for Life was implemented in 2007 through a collaboration of the West Virginia Hospital Association, CORE and the other organ procurement organizations that serve West Virginia:  Lifeline of Ohio, LifeNet Health and Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates. 

                Nationally, more than 114,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant.  At least 18 will die each day without receiving one, including two from CORE’s service area.  For every person who donates their organs, tissues and corneas, up to 50 lives can be saved or dramatically improved.

                For more information about CORE, visit www.core.org or call 1-800-DONORS-7.