Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign:

A Community Benefit Initiative to Save Lives

A partnership of the Minnesota Hospital Association and LifeSource

March 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Campaign Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………….…….3

For the Hospital CEO…………………………………………………………………………………………….…...4

Hospital Enrollment Form………………………………………………………………………………5 Sample Campaign Introduction Letter from CEO to Employees……………………..6

Promoting Your Donation Program: Resources and Ideas………………………………………….7

Flags Across America ………………………………………………………………………………..…..8o Press Release/Article Templateo Printable Display Card

Give 5, Save Lives E-mail Template from CEO to Employees……….…………………10 Public Education Brochure……………………………………………………………………..….….11 Poster………………………………………………………………………………………..…..……………..12 Online Advertisements for your Public or Internal Web site………..….…………….13

Other References……………………………………………………………………………………………………..14

Key Campaign Messages……………………………………………………………………………….14 Donate Life Minnesota Registry Form……………………………………………………..……15 Facts and Statistics about Donation and Transplantation………………………..……16 Additional Resources for Information on Donation and Transplantation………17 Donate Life logo and Donate Life Minnesota logo…………………………………….....18

Upcoming Hospital Education Modules………………………………………………………………..….19

Sample Campaign Calendar ………………………….…………………………………………………………20

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign

Overview

The Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign is a statewide effort to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors. The Minnesota Hospital Association is challenging all hospitals across the state, regardless of size or type, to work toward this common goal by educating employees and communities about the importance of the decision to be an organ and tissue donor.

The goal of the campaign is to have a minimum of 25% of Minnesota hospitals participate in this exciting program to contribute to LifeSource’s goal of increasing the number of registered donors in the state by 100,000. Working together, we can have a tremendous impact on the number of registered donors in the state and bring hope to the more than 2,500 Minnesotans who are waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Why donation and transplantation?

Organ and tissue donation is an extension of the hospital’s life-saving mission and a natural partnership for community benefit. Every hospital, regardless of size, has a donation program and is already contributing to the mission of saving lives through transplantation. This campaign is an opportunity to elevate this partnership from the clinical realm to the public realm and fulfill the hospital’s commitment to community benefit.

How can my hospital participate?

The goal of the Donate Life Minnesota campaign is to increase the number of Minnesotans who are registered organ and tissue donors. We have created a turn-key idea packet to help you get started with activities that work for your hospital. Some hospitals may choose to include a newsletter article about donation for their employees, some may choose to fly the Donate Life flag in honor of donors or recipients and some may choose to host an employee donor drive – the opportunities are endless! The program is designed to fit in with hospitals’ current outreach and community benefit initiatives so that it is easy and free to implement. Simply fill out the enrollment form on the following page to get started!

Whom do I contact with questions?

If you have any questions about the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign, please contact your LifeSource hospital liaison or:

Jan Hennings Sharon DavisMinnesota Hospital Association LifeSourcejhennings@mnhospitals.org sdavis@life-source.org

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital CampaignFor the CEO

Welcome to the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign! Your hospital’s participation in this new initiative will bring hope to the 2,500 people in our communities waiting for a life-saving transplant. On behalf of everyone touched by donation and transplantation, thank you.

Getting started is easy! We’ve provided a couple of resources on the following pages to help you announce the program to your employees. Here’s how it works:

1. Designate yourself or a fellow donation champion or Public Relations/Marketing person at your hospital to be the key contact for the campaign.

2. Fill out and return the Hospital Enrollment form on the following page.

3. Send an e-mail to your employees announcing the campaign (we’ve included a sample, customizable template on page 6).

Once your enrollment form is received, your LifeSource hospital liaison or hospital coordinator will follow up with the key campaign contact at your hospital to help support your activities. They will also be able to provide guidance, a sample calendar or assist you in developing your hospital’s campaign.

Finally, we look forward to tracking hospital participation in the campaign and will share the results with you on LifeSource’s professional Web site, www.MyDonationResource.org. Be sure to visit the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign page to see which of your peers are also participating. Together we can shape the future of donation and help save more lives!

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign

Hospital Enrollment Form

Hospital/Health System Name:

City:

Name of CEO/President:

Designated Campaign Leader:

Email:

Phone:

This hospital/health system hereby pledges to participate in the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign designed to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donors in our community. This facility supports the statewide efforts to help save lives through organ and tissue donation and is committing to launching this campaign using the tools and resources provided by the Minnesota Hospital Association and LifeSource.

______________________________________________ _____________________

Signature Date

Return completed form to:

Sharon DavisLifeSourcesdavis@life-source.org651.603.7866 - Phone651.603.7801 - Fax

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Sample Campaign Introduction Letter/Email from CEO to Employees

Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign

Dear (YOUR HOSPITAL NAME) employee,

Every day we make decisions that impact our own lives.

Few decisions, however, also have the ability to profoundly affect the lives of our families, our friends and our community. I am writing today with the opportunity for you to make, and help others make, a profound and life-saving decision ― the decision to register to be an organ and tissue donor.

Recently, I joined hospitals throughout the state in an innovative campaign to increase the number of registered donors in Minnesota as part of an initiative sponsored by the Minnesota Hospital Association and LifeSource, our state’s donation agency. Our participation in the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign challenges us to educate employees and our community about the importance of making a decision about organ and tissue donation and provides an opportunity for people to document their decision to be a donor.

(YOUR HOSPITAL NAME) is excited to work with hospitals across the state toward this common goal of saving lives through donation and transplantation. Our commitment to this cause strengthens the health of our community and brings hope to the more than 2,500 of our neighbors who are waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Throughout the year we will be providing opportunities for our employees and the patients we serve to make an informed decision about organ and tissue donation. Please watch for more information about how you can be involved in this life-saving initiative to benefit our community.

You can also visit the Donate Life Minnesota online donor registry today at www.DonateLifeMN.org to learn more about donation and register your generous decision to become an organ and tissue donor!

For more information about the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign, please contact (Hospital Champion’s Name and Contact Information).

Sincerely,(Hospital CEO)

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Promoting Your Donation Program: Resources and Ideas

LifeSource is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the Upper Midwest. Together with our regional hospital partners and transplant centers, we comprise the circle of grief and life. Our partnership as the public faces of organ and tissue donation is vital as we encourage people in our communities to make a decision about donation. With more than 105,000 people nationwide currently waiting for their second chance at life, it is crucial that we work together within our communities to inspire others to save lives through donation.

There are many ways to get this campaign under way at your facility:

Flags Across America

This flag is a chance to promote your hospital’s donation program and honor donor families and transplant recipients. We’ve made it easy for you to fly the flag by providing this related article template and display card on pages 8 and 9.

Give 5, Save Lives

Intended to encourage employees to register as organ and tissue donors, this tool provides the CEO or other hospital champion with e-mail templates to send to employees encouraging them to take 5 minutes out of their day to register as a donor online at www.DonateLifeMN.org. E-mail templates follow on page 10.

Public Education Flyer

These flyers may be placed wherever your hospital has public education materials, or be made available during campaign activities at your facility. Preview our brochure on page 11.

Posters

These posters may be hung throughout your facility to show your support for donation and to encourage your employees and patrons to register as donors. Preview posters on page 12.

Online Advertisements

These ads are available in a variety of sizes for use on your public or internal Web site; make clickable to www.DonateLifeMN.org, Minnesota’s online donor registry. See available sizes and images on page 13.

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Flags across America Press Release/Article Template

[Hospital] Honors Organ, Tissue and Eye Donors and Recipientsby Flying Donate Life Flag

The Donate Life Flag is being [flown/displayed] at [Hospital] [during the month of April OR when the

hospital is facilitating the gifts of donation] to honor organ and tissue donors and their families. The display is part

of a national initiative, Flags Across America, to honor and celebrate the hundreds of thousands of donors and

recipients whose lives have been affected by organ, eye and tissue donation. This campaign rallies every donor

hospital and transplant center, as well as all recovery agencies, to fly the Donate Life flag during April -- National

Donate Life Month.

Growing from one person’s idea into a nationwide display of unity, the vision of Flags Across America is to

proudly fly a Donate Life Flag at organizations that support the gifts of donation. This initiative is meant to

encourage the public to designate donation decisions by registering their wishes in their state donor registries.

Locally, [Hospital] partners with LifeSource to support families confronting end-of-life issues and to offer the

opportunity of organ and tissue donation.

“QUOTE from hospital regarding commitment to life-saving gifts of donation and encouraging others to

give the precious gift of life.”

[Hospital] is proud to be part of this bold initiative. To learn how to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor,

visit www.DonateLifeMN.org.

About [Hospital]

About LifeSource

LifeSource is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation in

Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and parts of western Wisconsin. Visit www.OrganDonation.org for more

information about LifeSource.

###

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This Donate Life Flag honors organ, tissue and eye donors and their families, along with grateful recipients. These generous gifts are given with love and

received with hope.

We are proud to support the life-saving mission of donation at [Hospital] by displaying this flag.

Save lives! Register to be an organ, tissue and eye donor.

Visit www.DonateLifeMN.org.

[HOSPITAL LOGO]

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital CampaignGive 5, Save Lives Sample E-mail from CEO to Employees

Initial e-mail announcing campaign to employees:

Every day we face a long list of things to do, both here at work and in our personal lives. Unfortunately, because of this long list, some things we would like to do get pushed aside. One of those things that sometimes gets pushed aside is making the decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor. I am writing today to ask that you consider giving this gift of life.

On (Date 1), (Date 2) and (Date 3) we will be setting aside five minutes of the work day so that you can register your wish to extend the gift of life through organ, tissue and eye donation. It’s now more convenient than ever to join the growing list of Minnesotans who have said “yes” and give the gift of life through donation. Simply visit www.DonateLifeMN.org and click on “Register Now.” The process is easy, confidential and will ensure that your wish to save lives through donation is honored.

More than 2.2 million Minnesotans have made the decision to share life through donation – have you? My hope is that by setting aside five minutes of the work day, becoming an organ and tissue donor will be something you can cross off your perpetual “to do” list.

Warm wishes,

[Signature of CEO]

Follow-up e-mail for the days of the campaign:

Get ready to make progress on that perpetual “to do” list and save lives at the same time!

Today we will be setting aside five minutes of our work day so that you can register your wish to extend the gift of life through organ, tissue and eye donation. Please visit www.DonateLifeMN.org and click on “Register Now” to document your decision. If you have questions about donation, many of them can be answered by the information contained on this site. The process of registering is easy, confidential and will ensure your wish to save lives through donation is honored.

Thank you for giving of your time and for supporting organ and tissue donation.

[Signature of CEO]

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Organ and Tissue Donation Public Education Brochure

LifeSource’s public education brochures have a strong call to action, encouraging Minnesotans to register as organ and tissue donors on their driver’s license or on an online form. Please feel free to display this with the other public education materials at your facility, or use it during any campaign activity, such as a donor registry event or flag-raising ceremony. Contact Sharon Davis at sdavis@life-source.org or 651.603.7866 to order these brochures free of charge.

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Organ and Tissue Donation Poster

These 11 x 17 posters are provided free of charge to help you promote organ and tissue donation within your facility. Please contact Sharon Davis at sdavis@life-source.org or 651.603.7866 to order.

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital CampaignOnline Advertisements for your Public or Internal Website

Please feel free to use these advertisements on your public or internal Web site to share your support of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. If you are making the ad clickable, you can re-direct users to www.DonateLifeMN.org, Minnesota’s online donor registry.

Available sizes include: 160 x 600 / 728 x 90 / 300 x 250 / 300 x 100 / 180 x 150 / 160 x 69

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital CampaignKey Campaign Messages

1. People in our community are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and you have the power to help them.

More than 2,500 of our neighbors in Minnesota are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.

The national transplant waiting list holds the names of more than 105,000 men, women and children.

Every day, 100 people pin their hopes on the generosity of strangers as they are added to the transplant waiting list.

Each day, 18 people who never received the transplant they were waiting for die.

2. (NAME OF HOSPITAL) supports organ and tissue donation as an extension of its life-saving mission and dedication to the community.

The people on the transplant waiting list have the same hopes and dreams as you and me. They are our mothers, fathers, siblings, children and neighbors.

Organ and tissue donation is not only a gift for the transplant recipients; it’s also a gift for the donor’s families, who often say donation helped them in their grief journey.

3. Document your decision to be a donor and tell your family that you want to save lives through donation.

Your decision to be an organ and tissue donor provides hope to the men, women and children waiting for a transplant.

Registering to be an organ and tissue donor will ensure your decision is honored. Making a lifetime decision about donation is a gift for your family; your decision to be an

organ and tissue donor means your loved ones don’t have to decide for you. Register to be a donor at www.DonateLifeMN.org.

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DONOR REGISTRY ENROLLMENT FORM

Minnesotans can register to be an organ and tissue donor online at any time. The online registry can be found at www.DonateLifeMN.org and is a safe, secure way for citizens to document their decision to save lives through donation.

You can also print the Donor Registry Enrollment Form and allow people to register as donors during your campaign activities. Either collect the forms and mail them to the address on the form or have the enrollee mail the form themselves. They will be added to the donor registry once we receive their completed form in the mail.

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Organ and Tissue DonationFacts and Statistics

The national transplant waiting list holds the names of more than 105,000 men, women and children, including more than 2,800 of our neighbors in the Upper Midwest.

Every day 100 people pin their hopes on the generosity of strangers as they are added to the national transplant waiting list.

Each day 18 people are removed from the transplant waiting list by death because an organ is not available.

In 2009, 175 people generously gave the gift of life through organ donation in the LifeSource region, providing 579 organs for transplant.

In 2009, 544 people generously gave the gift of tissue donation through LifeSource, impacting more than 25,000 lives.

Every donor is regarded by their recipient as a hero; each one of us can be a hero for up to 60 people through organ and tissue donation.

Organs that can be donated include: Heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestine.

Tissues that can be donated include: Corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, veins, and connective tissue.

Individuals can document their wish to be an organ and tissue donor in the following ways:

Checking the box on your driver’s license application or renewal form Registering online at www.DonateLifeMN.org.

As always, it’s important that individuals share their wishes with their family.

More than 2.28 million Minnesotans have already registered to be organ and tissue donors, accounting for 52% of drivers and ID card holders.

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Additional Resourcesfind more information online by visiting these Web sites

LifeSourcewww.OrganDonation.orgThe non profit organization dedicated to ‐saving lives through organ and tissue donation in the Upper Midwest

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)www.UNOS.orgComprehensive information and statistics about donation, transplants, current issues and developments

Donate Life Minnesotawww.DonateLifeMN.orgMinnesotans can register to be a donor online, plus find out more information about donation and what it means to register

Association of Organ Procurement Organizations(AOPO)www.AOPO.orgAOPO represents and serves OPOs through advocacy and support of the life saving mission of‐ donation

Donate Life North Dakotawww.DonateLifeND.orgNorth Dakotans can register to be a donor online, plus find out more information about donation and what it means to register

American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)www.AATB.orgA non profit organization that facilitates the‐provision of high quality transplantable human tissue

Donate Life South Dakotawww.DonateLifeSD.orgSouth Dakotans can download a form to register as a donor by mail, plus find out more information about donation and what it means to be register

Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA)www.RestoreSight.orgA non profit organization of eye banks dedicated ‐to the restoration of sight; also accredits Eye Banks in the United States

Donate Life Americawww.DonateLife.netInformation on organ and tissue donation,including how to register in each state

Department of Health and Human ServicesOrgan Donation Web sitewww.organdonor.govU.S. Government information on donation and transplantation, including national initiatives

Also be sure to investigate specific agencies, institutions, and organizations that might have additional information to assist with your research. Organizations like the National Kidney Foundation, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, and the American Red Cross may all prove useful in your search.

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DONATE LIFE and DONATE LIFE MINNESOTA LOGOS

These two logos can be used whenever you are promoting organ and tissue donation publicly or within your facility. The JPEG images can be downloaded at www.MyDonationResource.org.

The Donate Life Minnesota logo is a great logo to use internally when you are promoting your involvement with the Donate Life Minnesota Hospital Campaign among your staff.

The Donate Life logo can be used both internally and publicly when promoting your organization’s commitment to organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital CampaignUpcoming Hospital Education Modules

The Minnesota Hospital Association and LifeSource are thrilled to offer educational Webinars about a variety of aspects of donation and transplantation for your staff. Upcoming Webinars include:

Promoting Your Hospital’s Donation ProgramAll hospitals, regardless of size, have a donation program. Learn about promoting your hospital’s program in both good times and crisis situations to enhance your brand and protect public trust in donation. Wednesday, April 28, 20101:00 pm

From One Heart to Another with Beats in BetweenLearn about the tissue donation process through the eyes of a donor mom and heart valve recipient.June 2010

You Are the Champion of DonationIf you are the leader of your donation committee, the strongest advocate at your hospital or the person most likely to influence donation, this Webinar is for you. Learn from successful Donation Champions at Minnesota hospitals how to create or strengthen your hospital’s donation program.August 2010

Webinars in October and December 2010 are in also in development.

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Donate Life Minnesota Hospital CampaignCalendar of Opportunities

The following calendar is a sample; please adapt campaign activities to your facility.

April 2010

Campaign Kick-off Return Pledge Form CEO sends letter to employees

Fly the Donate Life flag in honor of National Donate Life Month

Attend Public Relations Webinar

September 2010

Buy a rose from your hospital for the 2011 Rose Parade Donate Life Float in honor of donors and recipients

May 2010

Hang Posters

Online advertising on your public or internal website

October 2010

Attend Educational Webinar

June 2010

Publish an article about donation in your newsletter or on your website

Attend Tissue Donation Webinar

November 2010

Promote your hospital’s donation program in honor of Thanksgiving – Give Thanks, Give Life.

July 2010

Give 5, Save Lives – encourage your employees to register as donors

December 2010

Attend Educational Webinar

August 2010

Using your newsletter and Web site, encourage the community to visit LifeSource at the Minnesota State Fair.

Attend Educational Webinar

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