Atlanta Medical Center recently received special recognition from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the hospital's efforts to raise the organ donation rates of eligible donors in their facilities in 2004.

Atlanta Medical Center was one of seven hospitals in Georgia and one of 184 across the nation to receive the honor. Hospital executives and the 49 organ procurement organizations (OPOs) were given the department's first annual Medal of Honor for Organ Donation by Elizabeth M. Duke, Ph.D., administrator of HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) during a ceremony in Pittsburgh. The healthcare organizations were cited for raising their donation rate to 75 percent of eligible donors. By contrast, the national average donation rate in all hospitals was 55 percent last year.

A total of 1,400 more life-saving transplants were performed in 2004 over 2003 as a result of hospitals across the nation working to improve their organ donation rate. Hospitals with eight or more potential donors in an consecutive 12-month period between September 2003 and March 2005 were eligible for the Medals of Honor. A total of 532 hospitals had eight or more potential donors during the award timeframe.

Organ donation increased by an unprecedented 10.8 percent in 2004, reaching a new annual record of 27,033 transplant operations. Results so far in the first four months of 2005 are breaking each of the monthly records established in 2004.

Since its founding in 1901, Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) has been serving the medical needs of the community and the region. The 460-bed tertiary care hospital, which is part of Tenet Georgia, is located at 303 Parkway Drive in Atlanta, Ga. Specialties include advanced surgery, cardiology, neurology, oncology, women's health, orthopedics, trauma and rehabilitation. The Level II trauma center is supported by aeromedical services providing immediate transportation to critical patients throughout the state. The hospital campus also comprises The Cancer Pavilion, a comprehensive cancer center, the Specialty Clinic (which treats diabetes and hepatitis C), Sheffield HealthCare, a neighborhood community health center, as well as the Wellness Center, which houses the Highland Athletic Club, Atlanta Weight Loss Center and outpatient rehabilitation program. Atlanta Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation's oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. To learn more about Atlanta Medical Center, visit www.atlantamedcenter.com