October 6 2016, was Organ Donor Enrollment Day. The observance was created to inform New Yorkers that the need for organ donors has never been greater and encourage them to take action by enrolling into the New York State Donate Life Registry. This call to action is very important because there are currently 10,000 New York residents waiting for an organ donation and each year many die while waiting.
Several health organizations including Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center support this initiative by participating in a statewide campaign to register as many organ donors as possible at their locations.
In previous years both hospitals have conducted outreach efforts on their respective campuses. However this year, in addition to operating hospital-based enrollment stations, Flushing and Jamaica Hospital collaborated with York College and Queens College by hosting donor registration events in their student lobbies.
Organizers from LiveOnNY and hospital staff led teams of volunteers at all locations to speak with potential donors about the importance of becoming an organ donor and that for every one person who registers, up to eight lives can be saved.
Mary Fischer, a CNA at Flushing Hospital knows all too well the importance of organ donation, her daughter Lauren was the recipient of a bi-lateral lung transplant just a few months ago. Lauren accompanied her mother at Queens College as living proof that organ donation is vital to those who need it to live a healthy life.
Overall Organ Donor Enrollment Day was a success as Jamaica and Flushing Hospital accomplished the goal of making a difference and giving the gift of life to many New Yorkers.