Ohio Donor Registry Marks 10-Year Anniversary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 2, 2012
COLUMBUS, OH- This July the Ohio Donor Registry will be ten years old, giving Ohioans the chance to declare their intent to donate organs, eyes and tissues after death since 2002.
While Ohioans were able to share their wishes to donate organs, eyes and tissues on their driver licenses and I.D.s for many years, only in 2002 did the Ohio Donor Registry make that a legal declaration actionable at the time of death.
Since its inception, the Ohio Donor Registry has grown significantly to reach nearly 5.2 million registered organ, eye and tissue donors, or 54 percent of all driver license and I.D. holders in the state.
“The steady growth of the Ohio Donor Registry is evidence that efforts to educate Ohioans about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation have been successful,” said Kent Holloway, CEO of Lifeline of Ohio, the nonprofit that promotes and coordinates organ, eye and tissue donation in central and southeastern Ohio.
“This achievement is a reflection of the generosity of Ohioans and their belief in saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Holloway.
While Lifeline of Ohio reflects on ten years of growth, the professionals in the organ, eye and tissue donation field note that there is still work to do. Statistically, an Ohioan dies every other day while waiting on an organ transplant. Across the country, 18 men, women and children die each day because an organ did not come in time.
Ohioans are encouraged to join the 5.2 million driver license and I.D. holders who have registered as organ, eye and tissue donors in the Ohio Donor Registry. Ohioans can sign up at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles, by visiting lifelineofohio.org or through an enrollment form by calling 800-525-5667.
Statewide Cumulative Four Year Data
Percent of driver license and state I.D. holders who registered as organ and tissue donors in Ohio
Note: Ohioans renew licenses and I.D.s every four years, making four-year cumulative data the best representation of total registrations.
About the Ohio Donor Registry
The Ohio Donor Registry (ODR) is a secure database that allows Ohioans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. Established in July 2002, the ODR is legal declaration of the anatomical gift of organs, tissues and eyes upon death, for any purposes authorized by law. The ODR information is only available to organ, tissue and eye recovery agencies, including Lifeline of Ohio, to access to an individual’s authorization when donation is possible. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) maintains the ODR. Ohioans can register as donors, put restrictions on their donations or remove their name from the ODR at their local BMV, by visiting www.lifelineofohio.org or by calling 800-525-5667 to obtain a paper enrollment form.
About Lifeline of Ohio
Lifeline of Ohio is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and coordinate the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio is approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving 37 counties in Central and Southeastern Ohio, and Hancock and Wood counties in West Virginia. Lifeline of Ohio provides services to 72 hospitals through its transplant coordinators. Lifeline of Ohio’s clinical staff is on call 24 hours a day to coordinate the recovery and transport of tissue and organs for transplant.
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