(ELMA, WA) – At the Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, April 25, Heidi Schaiberger, a representative from LifeNet Health presented Summit Pacific with a Tissue Donation Standards of Excellence Award.
LifeNet Health’s Tissue Donation Standards of Excellence Award is given to hospitals that achieve and sustain donation goals, based on fewest missed referrals, nurse approaches and late referrals. This award serves as a symbol to recognize Summit Pacific Medical Center for being champions of donation.

“One tissue donor has the potential to save or enhance the lives of more than 150 people,” says Schaiberger. “The gifts of donation not only help patients in need but also gives hope to donor families in the hours, months and years following the loss of their loved one.”
In 2018, Summit Pacific had a Timely Referral Rate of 100 percent, which means no donation opportunities were missed due to notifying LifeNet Health too late. There were also two tissue donors, SPMC’s first donors since April 2015. “The efforts of SPMC to educate the staff and meet goals greatly
supported making tissue donation possible and helps ensure that patient’s wishes to donate are honored,” said Schaiberger.
During the award ceremony, special recognition was given to Summit Pacific Emergency Department Manager, Nicole Simons and Director of Quality and Risk, Cecelia Tapp, for their incredible leadership
and support of donation.
Schaiberger continued, “our combined efforts are critical to supporting tissue donation in the Northwest community and allowing LifeNet Health to serve thousands of patients on an annual basis. The gift of tissue donation allows members of our community to lead a healthy, productive and joyful life and our partner’s role in this process is invaluable. LifeNet Health extends our greatest thanks to Summit Pacific Medical Center for all your efforts and support of our mission to Save Lives, Restore Health and Give Hope.”