LAS VEGAS–Nevada Donor Network Foundation (NDNF) is pleased to announce it has received a $12 million philanthropic commitment from University Medical Center (UMC), which will be in the form of in-kind programs and services, along with a cash contribution component to help support a virtual transplant institute in Nevada. Earlier this year, NDNF launched a $35 million philanthropic campaign, called ‘End the Wait,’ to help bring more transplantation programs and services to Las Vegas and the entire state of Nevada.
“We are extremely grateful for this $12 million investment from UMC,” said Steven Peralta, President of NDNF. “We have $23 million more to raise to help bring more physicians and transplant experts to fully launch our virtual transplant institute to self-fund the necessary transplants. We have a vision of starting liver transplants in Nevada soon and this commitment helps us get there.”
Enhancing transplantation services requires a multi-disciplinary approach that reaches beyond NDNF. Support is required from both the public and private sectors, as well as an increased willingness to collaborate through a network of providers and services related to the ecosystem of organ donation and transplantation. Through highly integrated partnerships with hospitals and other providers throughout the state, expanded transplantation services will contribute to growth in the healthcare sector, economic development, research. It will also help establish Nevada as a premier national destination for patients from neighboring states seeking the highest quality and most cost-effective care, while expanding physician workforce.
“UMC has been a long standing partner of Nevada Donor Network and we remain committed to improving the lives of those who are in dire need of life-saving organ donations,” said UMC Chief Executive Officer Mason Van Houweling. “As the only Center of Transplantation in Nevada, UMC continues to be at the forefront of trailblazing healthcare and this partnership ensures patients will have the best possible outcomes right here at home.”
Tripp Umbach, a national consulting firm, found that the total economic impact of transplantation-related services in Nevada and the region when medical education, research and workforce development models are included is expected to bring in $356 million annually. It would generate 2,845 new jobs and provide $33.8 million in state and local government revenue by 2040.
Innovations in patient care can benefit the community by increasing access, lowering costs and raising the quality of care to meet the demands of citizens. The strategy for the development of a robust transplantation program is predicated on establishing Las Vegas and Reno as a regional healthcare destinations for transplantation, recognizing the need to enhance the economic vitality of the region’s healthcare sector.
“The ultimate goal of this groundbreaking initiative is to create the organ donation and transplantation network of the future, which fully integrates with the communities we serve,” said Nevada Donor Network President and CEO Joe Ferreira. “By formalizing a commitment to advanced care within our partner hospitals, transplant centers and community healthcare providers in a singular, dedicated network, we will better serve heroic organ donors, their courageous families and the potential recipients who wait for the gift of life and health. This will elevate all healthcare in Nevada and serve to correct health disparities in access within the diverse populations in desperate need of these services.”
NDNF Chair and CEO of CrossRoads, David Marlon, echoed his sentiments, saying, “NDNF bringing more life-saving organ transplantation to our valley while supporting our UMC hospital expansion of services is a win/win for our community. For example, liver disease is a major cause, ranking in the top ten of morbidity and mortality in Nevada. Those numbers speak to the need for this expansion and livers are the second most needed organ in the nation.”
About Nevada Donor Network
Nevada Donor Network is a federally designated 501©(3) not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) committed to maximizing the gift of life and health through organ and tissue donation. Established in 1987, Nevada Donor Network is one of only 57 OPOs in the U.S. serving more than 3 million people in the state of Nevada and over 100,000 potential transplant recipients across the country. We work collaboratively with hospital staff and community partners to promote research and provide a strong support network to courageous donor families who’ve turned loss into hope.
At Nevada Donor Network, we encourage Nevadans to help individuals in need of life-saving transplants through education, research and action. Nevada Donor Network is a member of Donate Life Nevada, an affiliate of Donate Life America, whose state-wide efforts encourage Nevadans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. For more information, please visit www.nvdonor.org.
About UMC
UMC offers the highest level of care in Nevada, providing a wide range of exclusive and specialized health care services to community members and visitors. UMC is home to Nevada’s only Level I Trauma Center, only Designated Pediatric Trauma Center, only Verified Burn Care Center and only Center for Transplantation. UMC Children’s Hospital serves as the state’s only hospital to be recognized and accepted as an associate member of the Children’s Hospital Association. Offering highly skilled physicians, nurses and staff members supported by the latest, cutting-edge technology, UMC continues to build upon its reputation for providing Nevada’s highest level of care. In support of its mission to serve as the premier academic health center, UMC is the anchor partner for the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. For more information, please visit www.umcsn.com and www.chnv.org.
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