CentraCare Health System – Long Prairie was recently presented with an award of appreciation for participating in the 2010 Minnesota Hospital Association and LifeSource strategic initiative to increase organ and tissue donation awareness.  Hospital participation included publishing donation stories in newsletters, allowing staff to take time out and register themselves as donors, flying the Donate Life flag and more. 

Fifty-six hospitals throughout Minnesota participated in the campaign, and were involved in increasing the number of registered donors in Minnesota by 85,000 in 2010.

LifeSource Hospital Liaison Barb Nelson-Agnew (left) was on hand in Long Prairie to present Jodi Hillmer, Director of Patient Care, and Dan Swenson, CEO, the certificate of appreciation for supporting the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign.

While those numbers are impressive, they still fall short.  125 individuals died in Minnesota in 2010 waiting for an organ that never arrived.  More than 40% of Minnesotans still are not registered donors.  We can and will do more. Staff and administration at CentraCare Health System - Long Prairie make donation a mission, supporting families through the donation process every time the opportunity is presented.  Since 2005, there have been 11 tissue donors from CentraCare Health System - Long Prairie, helping to save and improve the lives of over 550 people through transplantation.

To find out more about donation or to register your wishes, please visit Donate Life Minnesota.