SPRINGFIELD, N.J.-The New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network has experienced a record-breaking year: in 1999 the network's number of organ and tissue donors was higher than in the ten previous years.
Last year, the network recovered 134 organs, which represented a 28% increase over 1998. Tissue donations in 1999 included 105 bone donors, 72 hearts for valves, 67 skin donors, and 320 eye donors. In addition, the number of hospital referrals grew 43% from 1998 to 1999--from 19,341 to 27,817.
Network president Joseph Roth attributed the increase in organ donations and hospital referrals, in part, to increased donor awareness educational programs, with a special emphasis on outreach to minority groups, and the recent Medicare rule requiring hospitals to report all deaths or imminent deaths to their organ procurement organization.
"These efforts resulted in a 51% overall consent rate for organ donation, an increase of 3% over the 48% consent rate reported in 1998," the network reported. According to the network, about 1,800 people in New Jersey are on a waiting list for organs.
For Your Information:
See the New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network's website at www.sharenj.org, or call the network at 1-800-SHARE-NJ.
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