This prestigious honor was awarded at a celebratory dinner on October 10 at the third Annual National Learning Conference of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held in Nashville, Tennessee. Good Samaritan staff members Carol Butler and Lori Montagna, Nurse Managers in the ED and ICU/CCU departments, respectively, were there to receive the award. They exemplify the mission & vision of the Organ and Transplantation Alliance by focusing on the goals of elimination of deaths on transplant wait lists and achieving reductions in the total transplant list. Good Samaritan has consistently worked to improve the organ consent rate, and has retained an excellent organ and tissue consent rate.

“You can make a tremendous difference in the lives of those in desperate need of organs and tissue by discussing with your family the desire to donate organs. Planning and making your decision known increases the chances that your wishes will be followed,” stated Pat Hogan, RN, senior vice president of nursing and CNO at Good Samaritan.

To enroll in New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, visit www.donatelifeny.org.

For more information about Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, please call (631) 376-4444.

Pictured: New York Organ Donor Network’s Hospital Services Specialist Frank Novak (center) with Carol Butler, Nurse Manager, Emergency Department, Good Samaritan Hospital (left) and Lori Montagna, Nurse Manager, ICU/CCU, Good Samaritan Hospital (right).

###

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip. The Medical Center, which has 4,000 employees and more than 700 physicians on staff, had 29,000 patient admissions and more than 85,800 emergency room visits in 2006. Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit our website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provides approximately $20 million in community service and charity care each year. The Medical Center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health. This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.