Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) has received gold-level recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries as part of a national campaign.  

“We are honored to have been recognized by HRSA with this gold-level achievement for our participation and cultivation of a culture that incorporates educating and registering donors as a standard part of our mission to improve the health and well-being of the community by providing the best medical care,” said DKH President and CEO Anne Diamond.

DKH partnered with LifeChoice Donor Services, the area’s local designated organ procurement organization, to conduct awareness and registry campaigns that educated staff, patients, visitors and community members on the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors, thereby increasing the number of potential donors in the state’s donation registry.

These efforts were part of HRSA’s National Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donation Campaign to raise awareness and register donors with hospital facilities and their communities which Day Kimball Hospital has participated in for nearly 10 years.

Day Kimball Hospital is among 1,200 other hospitals partaking in this national initiative. Since the campaign began in 2011, more than 443,000 people across the country have added their names to state registries. In CT, there are a total of 1,363,433 people registered as organ, eye, and tissue donors which represents 46% of the state’s license and identification holders.

"Day Kimball Hospital has always encouraged registering as an organ and tissue donor,” said Director of Donation Development for New England Donor Services, Chas MacKenzie. “In the last two years alone, the Hospital supported 14 families whose loved ones gave the gift of life through donation. The Day Kimball staff are remarkable in providing for our community's health care needs and that includes the heroes who are donor families. There are 1,228 Connecticut residents waiting for a lifesaving transplant today, and many more who need tissues to see again, walk again, and return to healthier living. It is an honor to work with such a strong community partner in this life saving mission."

In order to register as an organ and tissue donor in Connecticut, residents can visit the Department of Motor Vehicles or can sign up online at daykimball.org/donate-life.

PHOTO CAPTION: (l. to r.): Director of Donation Development for New England Donor Services Chas MacKenzie presents DKH President and CEO Anne Diamond and DKH Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Services John O’Keefe with a gold-level recognition certificate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration for promoting enrollment in state organ donor registries as part of a national campaign at Day Kimball Hospital on July 19.