FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2018
April is National Donate Life Month
Saratoga Hospital Honors Organ and Tissue Donors
PHOTO CAPTION: April is Donate Life Month, and Saratoga Hospital joins the nation in recognizing the tremendous generosity of organ donors and to raise awareness of the vital need for people to join the organ donor registry. The Hospital is flying the Donate Life flag the entire month of April, and staff participated in NationalWear Blue and Green Day on April 13 to raise awareness and honor organ and tissue donors. For more information, visit donatelifecdt.org. April 17, 2018—Saratoga Hospital will be flying the Donate Life flag for the duration of National Donate Life Month, a recognition held every April that highlights the lifesaving benefits of donation and encourages New Yorkers to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Donor Registry.
“We encourage everyone to take a moment to seriously consider joining the organ donor registry,” said Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO. “Read the literature, ask questions, and then make the choice that is right for you. In the last 30 days, more than 300 New Yorkers have been added to the waiting list, which is already over 9,000. If you can sign up, please do, and we thank you. It is with heartfelt gratitude that we fly the Donate Life flag this month.”
The intent of the flag is to celebrate the heroic decision to donate life, but also to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation. Hospital employees also participated in National Wear Blue and Green Day, held on April 13. In addition to raising the Donate Life flag for the month of April, every time there is an organ or tissue donation at the Saratoga Hospital, a flag is raised for one week to honor the donor and family.
There are 9,375 New Yorkers currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant; 1,653 of those have been waiting for more than five years according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One person who donates may impact the lives of 12 others in need. To register as a donor or for more information about how to get involved, please visit the Center for Donation and Transplant’s website at donatelifecdt.org.
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About Saratoga Hospital: Saratoga Hospital is the Saratoga region’s leading healthcare provider and the only acute-care facility in Saratoga County. With a medical staff of more than 450 providers, the hospital offers care in a broad range of medical specialties at more than 20 locations including its Wilton campus and the Saratoga Medical Park at Malta. The Saratoga Hospital Medical Group ensures easy access to services that can have the greatest impact on both individual and community health. In keeping with its emphasis on quality, Saratoga Hospital was the first in the Capital Region to earn Magnet designation for nursing excellence. On Jan. 1, 2017, Saratoga Hospital finalized its affiliation with Albany Medical Center, joining Columbia Memorial Health in creating a regionally integrated, locally governed healthcare system. For more information: www.saratogahospital.org or www.facebook.com/SaratogaHospital.
About The Center for Donation & Transplant: The Center for Donation & Transplant facilitates organ and tissue donation in northeastern New York and western Vermont. CDT ensures that the option of donation is offered to families in an informative and compassionate manner, and provides long-term support and comfort to families and hospital personnel involved in the donation process. Learn more at donatelifecdt.org.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Hopper
Director, Marketing and Communications
518.583.8679
phopper@saratogahospital.org