Loyola receives Silver Medal of Honor for Organ Donation

Loyola University Health System was awarded a Silver Medal of Honor for Organ Donation by the Department of Health and Human Services. Loyola is recognized for achieving and sustaining national goals for donation, including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors during the time period of April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2012.

"Loyola is our partner in a dance for life where we do not know the music but together we find a way," said Kevin Cmunt, president & CEO, Gift of Hope. In 2012, Loyola was the #2 donor hospital for Gift of Hope's service area of 180 hospitals in the northern three-quarters of Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

"I am extremely proud of Loyola's transplant team. In 2012 alone, Loyola had 16 organ donors and 40 organs were recovered for lifesaving transplant," said Cmunt. "Loyola also had 22 tissue donors."

Loyola was recognized based on its performance in post-transplant survival rates, transplant rates and mortality rates after patients are placed on waiting lists.

Robert Cundiff, transplant services administrator for Loyola, credits the nursing staff for the award achievement. "The Medal of Honor reflects our excellent staff in critical care units at Loyola, especially the Loyola nurses who support our donor patient families and work collaboratively, efficiently and compassionately under very difficult circumstances," said Cundiff.