OneLegacy, the non-profit, federally designated organ, eye and tissue recovery organization serving Southern California, announced today that it led the nation in the recovery and transplantation of lifesaving organs in 2014. OneLegacy recovered 1,282 organs from 418 organ donors, and enabled more than 100,000 tissue transplants from 1,868 cornea, bone, skin, heart valve, and vessel donors.
OneLegacy collaborated with the 220 hospitals and 11 transplant centers it serves in its region to maintain the nation's leading donation for transplant status. The 2014 results were achieved in the face of improved safety measures and quality emergency care throughout the region that have dramatically reduced death rates and opportunities to donate.
"We wish to acknowledge first the generous donors and their families who made the decision to save and heal lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation. Some of these decisions were made prior to donation by those who signed up months or years ago on the state registry,” stated Tom Mone, CEO of OneLegacy. “For those who might not have been aware of the opportunity to donate, we thank our hospital partners who have helped families to recognize that they can give greater meaning to lives cut short through the generous act of organ eye and tissue donation. Further, we are working closely with our regional transplant programs to develop innovative and proven organ recovery, preservation, and acceptance practices to broaden organ acceptance and transplant criteria with successful outcomes.”
Notably, about 71 percent of those who can donate organs at the time of their death actually do so, and nearly 40 percent of organ, eye and tissue donors recovered through OneLegacy's stewardship were authorized by the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, which counts more than 11.5 million registered donors statewide. However, with more than 22,000 Californians on transplant waiting lists, and thousands more requiring tissue and corneas, OneLegacy urges everyone to sign up to become donors at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org. Many elect to sign up by simply checking the box that reads “Yes, I want to be a donor” when renewing drivers licenses or id cards.
As of January 2, 2015, Californians can register in less than 10 seconds by simply holding their licenses up to a Donate Life California scanner and then signing the screen. This capability will be rolled out statewide by Donate Life California, the organization that administers the registry, and OneLegacy in the first quarter of 2015.
With more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers and a diverse population of nearly 20 million, OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world. For more information, call OneLegacy at (800) 786-4077 or visit www.onelegacy.org.
