Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) were both recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as OneLegacy, headquartered in Los Angeles.
OneLegacy is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area. The organization has a membership of more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers, and a diverse population of 19 million, making it the largest organ and tissue recovery organization in the world.
LLUMC was among 237 health care organizations nationwide designated as a “Silver Medal Hospital” by the Department of Health Human Services, in recognition of excellence in both organ procurement and transplantation.
“These 237 hospitals achieved 75 percent or greater collaborative conversion rate, and one of either 10 percent or greater donation after circulatory determination of death (DCD), or 3.75 or greater organs transplanted per donor or greater (OTPD),” according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
In addition, both LLUMC and LLUCH were recognized during “The Donation & Transplantation Symposium,” held October 21 at the Fairplex Conference Center in Pomona.
Leonard L. Bailey, MD, infant heart transplant pioneer and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at LLUMC, was given the honor of presenting the awards during the 2014 hospital awards and 2015 Donate Life Rose Parade float unveiling at the symposium. He received a standing ovation when he was introduced.
Bailey particularly enjoyed presenting an award for the “most livers transplanted over [a] 12-month period” to LLUMC representative Takkin Lo, MD, MPH, director of hyperbaric and wound medicine, and pulmonary and critical care medicine.
A third “Process Excellence” award recognized both LLUMC and LLUCH for a “conversion rate greater than 75 percent, with a successful DCD program (greater than 10 percent DCD), 6-plus eligible.”