Providence Hospitals has been honored with the Medal of Honor for Organ Donation from the Department of Health and Human Services. The hospital is among 10 South Carolina hospitals and 428 nationwide to earn the honor in recognition for success in increasing the number of organs available for transplantation.

Providence Hospitals collaborates closely with the state’s organ procurement organization, LifePoint, Inc., to implement best practices for honoring the final wishes of organ and tissue donors. Providence was among those hospitals to achieve and sustain national goals for donation including a donation rate of 75 percent or more of eligible donors at their facilities. This means three out of every four medically eligible donors became donors.

Providence president and CEO George Zara believes this award is indicative of the hospitals’ commitment to honoring the intent of donors and their families. “We are pleased to receive recognition for our organ donation program,” he said. “Providence strives to carry out the wishes of our patients by providing compassionate, quality care that is consistent with our faith–based mission.”

Nancy A. Kay, Life- Point president and CEO, said, “We would like to congratulate the 10 South Carolina hospitals that have received the Medal of Honor. This prestigious award is really a credit to their hard work during very difficult situations. It shows their commitment to saving lives through transplantation by honoring the wishes of donors and their families.”

Providence Hospitals is a two hospital health care system with 304 licensed beds. It is located in downtown Columbia and was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine in 1938. The facility is best known for the expertise in cardiac care it provides through Providence Heart and Vascular Institute, which is recognized statewide as a referral center for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Providence Hospital Northeast was established in 1999 and offers a range of medical services in surgery, emergency care, women’s and children’s services and rehabilitation. Providence Northeast is home to Providence Orthopaedic & Neuro Spine Institute, which provides medical and surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of the bones, joints, and spine.

For more information, visit www.providencehospitals. com.