SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West Medical Center is encouraging its staff to register as organ and tissue donors. This initiative is part of a major statewide campaign to save lives by increasing the pool people who have registered to donate their organs and tissues in the event of death. One organ donor holds the potential to save 8 lives and enhance up to 50 more through tissue donation. Hundreds of Nebraska residents are currently waiting for transplants made possible by organ donation.

The state-wide goal of the current registration drive is to add 80,000 names to the Donor Registry of Nebraska. Donor Drive 2011 is a collaborative with Nebraska Organ Recovery System (NORS) and the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA).

Members of the community who are interested can visit www.NEdonordrive.com to learn more about this initiative or to join the Donor Registry of Nebraska. There’s no age limit for signing up, and all major religions support this act of charity and love.

“This initiative was created to help improve and extend the lives of Nebraskans by increasing public and professional participation in organ and tissue donation for transplantation,” stated Laura J. Redoutey, FACHE, president of the Nebraska Hospital Association.

“There is a critical need for life-saving organs in our state, and the more residents who can commit to helping others through joining the registry, the better,” said Shermaine Sterkel, Trauma Nurse Coordinator at Regional West. “The staff of Regional West realizes the power of organ and tissue donation. And through our staff’s efforts to join and encourage their friends and family to join the registry, we are hoping to inspire our fellow community members to follow suit.”

Regional West Health Services , Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company for Regional West Medical Center and Regional West Physicians Clinic. These organizations, with over 1,800 employees, provide comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, the Regional West family of health care organizations offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties.