Center for Organ Recovery & Education Embraces “20 Million in 2012,” Reflects on Recently Launched Initiatives to Increase Organ Donation

Posted by on Jan 31, 2012 in Patient Experience | 0 comments

 The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), a federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) serving Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and parts of New York, will devote energy and resources to a yearlong national initiative in 2012 aimed at dramatically raising the number of organ, tissue and cornea donors. Titled “20 Million in 2012,” the program is the brainchild of Donate Life America, a national organ donor awareness organization. The program’s goal is to encourage 20 million people to register as organ donors this year.

“Last year, the organ donation community marked a milestone by reaching 100 million donors in the United States. It’s time to set bigger goals and to make people understand the urgent need to make a pledge for life and become an organ donor,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “At CORE, we know that 45 percent of registered Pennsylvania drivers are also registered organ donors, and in West Virginia, that number is nearly 31 percent. We thank those people who have already made a pledge for life, but we also know that we have plenty of work ahead of us.”

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Latest Issue Now Online

Posted by on Jan 31, 2012 in Latest Issue | 0 comments

Our latest issue is now online! Be sure to check it out and forward it onto your friends and colleagues. Download it now.

If you have any bylined articles or news to share with our readers in the first issue of 2012, please email me at hdkart@aol.com.

These are the focus areas for February: Social Media, Diversity in Healthcare, Taking Healthcare Green, Eldercare, Rehabilitation, Medical Billing & Coding.

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American Liver Foundation Announces Honorees Tribute to Excellence 2012

Posted by on Jan 27, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

American Liver Foundation recognizes dedicated individuals & organizations at annual awards luncheon

The American Liver Foundation (ALF) will recognize five individuals that have demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and commitment to the Allegheny Division of the ALF at their 6th annual awards luncheon.

This year the Allegheny Division will honor the following five people for their tireless dedication to the American Liver Foundation and the fight against liver disease.

  • Dr. George Mazariegos, Pediatric Transplant Surgeon, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
  • Dr. Paul Lebovitz, Division Director, Gastroenterology, West Penn Allegheny Health Systems
  • Donato Coluccio, Chef and owner of Donato’s Fox Chapel
  • Dr. Karl Williams, Allegheny County Medical Examiner
  • Richard Zelechowski, Western Pennsylvania PBC Support Group member

The Tribute to Excellence began in 2007 by honoring Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD, the “Father of Transplantation” and naming a research grant in his name. Since then the ALF has strived to honor those individuals and organizations that have demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and commitment, who have devoted time, talent and treasure to the American Liver Foundation in a meaningful way through advocacy, education and fundraising, and who forge paths of leadership for others to follow in the fight against liver disease.

The mission of the American Liver Foundation is to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.

The 6th Annual Tribute to Excellence will be held on Friday, March 2, at The Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel from 11:30am-1pm. Tickets are $45 each. For more information contact Amanda McDivitt, 412-434-7077.

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Pennsylvania Physician Provides Free Health Care to Working Poor

Posted by on Jan 27, 2012 in Leadership | 0 comments

Dr. Zane Gates

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation® Honors Zane Gates, MD, With a 2011 Community Health Leaders Award  

After completing medical school and a residency in internal medicine, Zane Gates ultimately returned home to Altoona, Pa., where he grew up poor in a public housing project. He opened his own free clinic in a van to provide care to the working poor—those who can’t afford to buy private coverage but earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. After partnering with Altoona Regional Health System, Gates’ van-based clinic grew into Partnering for Health Services, which provides access to free health care to about 3,500 people in the Altoona area.

For his determination to provide compassionate health care to those most in need and his work throughout the Altoona community, Gates has been named one of 10 recipients of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders Award. The award honors exceptional men and women who have overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities. Gates will receive the award during a ceremony at Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md., on November 9.

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Excela Health Press Conference and Heart Center Tour

Posted by on Jan 26, 2012 in Healthcare System | 0 comments

Over the past year Excela Health has conducted an extensive internal review and sought independent external validation of findings regarding interventional cardiology and the operation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Westmoreland Hospital. This rigorous investigation has led to new national accreditations regarding the quality of care and the hiring of additional physicians to provide cardiac care.

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