Organ transplantation is one of the 20th century's most miraculous medical breakthroughs. Yet, there simply are not enough organs available to help everyone in need. As a result, an average of 15 people die every day waiting to receive an organ transplant.

Organ Donation Awareness Programs
While medical researchers look for ways to combat illnesses that make transplantation necessary, as a healthcare executive you and the organizations you serve can join the crusade from a critical vantagepoint. ACHE—in support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services "Gift of Life" initiative—urges our affiliates to advocate organ and tissue donation and to develop donor programs in their own organizations.

Register Your Decision
Please visit donatelife.net to find out how to register to be an organ and tissue donor in your state. Please also share your decision with your family. It is important to tell your family members that you have decided to become a donor so that they will understand your decision and support it.

ACHE's Policy Statement
ACHE recommends that all healthcare executives work to increase the supply of available organs for transplantation. Our official position on the issue is outlined in our Policy Statement on organ donation.

Increasing Organ Donation and Procurement: The Hospital Leader’s Role (PDF Article)
Deborah A. Labb
Healthcare Executive 20:3, 2005

Links to Other Sites
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
organdonor.gov
The HHS provides valuable information and resources that your organization and your community can use to promote donor awareness. It also outlines details of Secretary Tommy Thompson's "Gift of Life Donation Initiative."

Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
aopo.org/aopo
The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) is a private, nonprofit organization recognized as a national representative of organ procurement organizations (OPOs). AOPO is a professional organization dedicated to the special concerns of OPOs. AOPO represents and serves OPOs through advocacy, support, and development of activities that will maximize the availability of organs and tissues and enhance the quality, effectiveness, and integrity of the donation process.

Donate Life America
donatelife.net
Donate Life America is a non-profit alliance of major professional, patient, health, science, transplant, corporate and voluntary organizations. Its purpose is to increase the number of registered donors in the United States through cultural and systemic change with a vision of an organ, cornea or tissue transplant for everyone in need.

National Kidney Foundation/National Donor Family Council
kidney.org/recips/donor
The National Donor Family Council supports the needs and expectations of all organ and tissue donor families and assists the healthcare professionals who work most closely with these families.

National Marrow Donor Program
marrow.org
The National Marrow Donor Program aims to establish, maintain, and improve a system that provides bone marrow transplants from volunteer unrelated donors for patients with leukemia and other life threatening blood diseases.

Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO)
trioweb.org
Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc, (TRIO) is an independent, non-profit, international organization, working to improve the quality of life of transplant candidates, recipients, donors, and their families. Through the TRIO headquarters and a network of chapters and members-at-large, TRIO serves its members in the areas of donor awareness, support, education, and advocacy.

TransWeb
transweb.org
TransWeb is a non-profit educational project that provides extensive information on a wide range of topics. Test your knowledge of organ transplantation by taking the quiz.

United Network for Organ Sharing
optn.org
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit organization that was awarded the contract by the Department of Health and Human Services to operate the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and to develop a national system to assure equal access for all patients needing organs for transplantation.