Three ThedaCare hospitals were recently recognized by UW Organ and Tissue Donation (UW OTD) for the ongoing commitment to saving and improving lives through organ and tissue donation.
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton earned the Silver Award of Hope, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah earned the Gold Award of Hope and ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano earned the Excellence in Tissue Donation recognition.
“Our dedicated team members care deeply about donor patients and their families,” said Sue Broeren RN, Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinator at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. “We extend our gratitude to families who make the decision at a very difficult time to donate their loved one’s organs and tissue. Those families make it possible for us to have a successful program, and we are incredibly grateful for their compassion for others.”
The UW Organ and Tissue Donation Award of Hope recognizes the comprehensive work of hospitals that achieve or exceed goals that maximize organ donation. The award is based on two measurements. One is the true conversion rate, which calculates the percentage of medically eligible donors that become actual donors. The other measurement is organs transplanted per donor, which evaluates the average number of organs recovered from each donor. Hospitals can earn a gold, silver or bronze Award of Hope. A rate of organs transplanted per donor of 3.25 earns a bronze award, a true conversion rate of at least 75% earns a silver award, and meeting both metrics earns a gold award.
The Excellence in Tissue Donation Award is given to partner hospitals that achieve at least a 60% consent rate from families when asked by care teams about organ donation. This metric measures the collaborative work between the hospital staff and tissue bank in coordinating communication with patients and families around tissue consent conversations.
“Hospitals play a pivotal role in the life-saving journey of organ donation and transplantation through their compassionate care for donor heroes and the exceptional support of donor families,” said Michael Anderson, executive director of UW Organ and Tissue Donation. “We honor these hospitals and their incredible care teams for working so hard to help ensure that those who are waiting for a transplant will get a second chance at life.”
UW Organ and Tissue Donation is a federally designated organ procurement organization serving more than 100 hospitals in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. The 2023 winners were honored during a ceremony on May 9 in Madison.
ThedaCare Physician Recognized
Laurin Bellg, M.D., a critical care specialist who practices at ThedaCare Regional Medical Centers-Appleton and Neenah, was also named as the winner of the 2023 Dr. Donn Dexter Physician Excellence Award from UW Organ and Tissue Donation (UW OTD).
According to UW OTD, this award recognizes the comprehensive work of one physician who exemplifies the highest standards of donation support. To be eligible for the award, a physician must provide care within the UW OTD donation service area, demonstrate consistent supportive medical donation practices, as well as advocate on behalf of donor patients and families. This individual is recognized within the health care team as a leader and key resource to champion donation causes and overcome challenges in the donation process.
According to her nomination, the intensive care unit (ICU) nursing teams at ThedaCare learn from Dr. Bellg’s example of patient- and family-centered care, and how to advocate for organ donation and transplantation. Dr. Bellg’s leadership is a vital component to why the ThedaCare organ donation program is a leader in UW OTD’s designated service area and has consistent high achieving metrics and positive family feedback.
“While donation provides desperately needed organs and tissue for recipients, it can also provide healing for the donor families, knowing a part of their loved one lives on,” said Dr. Bellg.
To learn more about organ and tissue donation, and to sign up to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor, please visit: DonorRegistry.Wisconsin.gov.
Three ThedaCare hospitals were recently recognized by UW Organ and Tissue Donation (UW OTD) for the ongoing commitment to saving and improving lives through organ and tissue donation. Included in the photo (L-R):
- Michael Anderson, Executive Director of UW Organ and Tissue Donation
- Grace Gonzalez, Vice President of Nursing for the ThedaCare South Region
- Adam Chaffin, RN, ICU, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
- Sarah Thern, RN, ICU, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
- Jessica Mader, RN, ICU, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
- Dr. Nikole Neidlinger, Associate Medical Director of UW Organ and Tissue Donation
- Sue Broeren, RN, Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinator at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
- Dr. Laurin Bellg, critical care specialist with ThedaCare Regional Medical Centers-Appleton and Neenah/winner of the 2023 Dr. Donn Dexter Physician Excellence Award
