Life Connection of Ohio

Life Connection of Ohio

Information was provided to TransWeb by Life Connection of Ohio 2/98, updated 4/2000.

Fiscal and Toledo regional office: 1545 Holland Rd., Suite C, Maumee, Ohio 43537
(419) 893-1618 (office)
(419) 893-4891 (Donation Services)
(800) 262-5443 (toll-free)
(419) 893-1827 (fax)

Dayton regional office: 1100 South Main St., Suite 204, Dayton, Ohio 45409
(937) 223-8223 (office)
(800) 535-9206 (toll-free)
(937) 223-8955 (fax)

www.lifeconnectionofohio.org

UNOS Region 10

Contact person for public education:	Andi Norman, Community Relations (Toledo) Tracy Bowers, Community Relations (Dayton)
Geographical areas covered:	Northwest and West Central Ohio
Population served:	2.5 million
Transplant centers in the service area:	Medical College Hospitals, Toledo; Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton

The organization and its mission:
Life Connection of Ohio is an independent, not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) designated by the federal government to accept anatomical gifts for transplantation or research in northwest and west central Ohio.

Mission: Life Connection of Ohio is dedicated to increasing and facilitating the recovery of high quality organs and tissues for transplantation.

Goals:

Provide families with the option of donation in time of loss as a measure of comfort
Facilitate the recovery of viable organs, tissues, and eyes for transplantation, medical research or education
Provide public and professional education to increase awareness and commitment of organ and tissue donation
Promote and maintain a collaborative relationship with hospitals and other organizations involved in the recovery and transplantation of organs and tissues

Programs and Services:

Public Education: newsletter; educational presentations to: schools, groups, organizations, businesses; informational materials
Organ and Tissue Donation: facilitation
Donor Family: support, follow-up

Unique or creative organ donation promotion strategies:
Professional Education: "Timing is Everything" To assist nurses and hospital staff with approaching families about donation, a unique poster was developed, "When Talking to Families about Donation, TIMING IS EVERYTHING." It offers a tear-off checklist for assessing the family's stage of grief and suggestions as to when to proceed with the option of donation.

BMV: In 1996 LCO piloted a new and innovative project with Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) agencies from seven counties in west central Ohio to supply electronic message sign boards. The messages are preprogrammed with donation facts and figures and supplied to the BMVs by LCO. The pilot proved to be very successful and in 1997 expanded to the entire LCO service area. BMVs are helping to increase awareness of the vital need for donation by displaying the LCO message sign board. In fact, the project was nationally recognized, receiving the Frank Maier Public Education Award presented by the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO).

Web Site: LCO had the distinction of being the first organ procurement organization in the state of Ohio to have an internet site when it went "live" in January 1997 and became part of the information superhighway: http://www.mco.edu/hop/lifeconn.

COSI: Toledo's Center of Science and Industry (COSI) opened in March 1997 and offers a new way to learn about donation with an "organ vending" exhibit. When an organ or tissue is selected from the vending machine the request is denied. Instead the organ shortage is explained and tubes are dispensed that contain donation facts and a donor card.

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Last modified: 11 May 2000