McCONNELLSBURG — Fulton County Medical Center is receiving statewide recognition for its efforts to support and raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation.
FCMC was honored with a Platinum designation through the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge. FCMC was also awarded with Gold recognition through the Health Resources and Services Administration DoNation Campaign which unites America’s workforce for organ, eye and tissue donation.
The annual campaign encourages Pennsylvania hospitals to increase organ, eye and tissue donation awareness within their hospitals and communities. HAP partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the two organ procurement organizations serving Pennsylvania—the Center for Organ Recovery & Education and Gift of Life Donor Program—to support the challenge.
“I am proud of Futon County Medical Center and our community as a whole for the CORE Platinum designation because it signifies our commitment to organ donation and helps raise donation awareness,” said Michael Makosky, FCMC president and CEO. “The number of people in need of transplants far exceeds the number of organs, tissues and corneas that are donated. FCMC is happy to play even a small part if it helps people become organ, tissue and cornea donors. Thanks to Alexandria Watkins, RN, for leading the medical center toward accomplishing this special designation.”
Watkins, acute care manager and CORE liaison, attended the awards ceremony earlier this month at the Pittsburgh Field Club to accept the recognition. There, she also was able to recognize two staff members. Kayla Smith, RN BSN, and Michael Straley, FCMC Foundation, who both played an integral part in the ceremony. Smith spoke on behalf of her mother, Carol, who received a lung transplant in 2022. Straley spoke on behalf of his son, Chris, who saved the lives of multiple individuals by being an organ donor.
Watkins’ role as CORE liaison includes communicating with CORE staff in reviewing and auditing donor referrals, educating staff members, holding events and overall assisting in increasing the awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation. During National Donate Life Month in April, multiple educational sessions were held for hospital staff, registration events were held for the public, and a ceremony was organized in order to provide awareness about the 7,000 individuals who are waiting for a life-saving organ or tissue donation. These events also help honor the individuals who selflessly donated organ or tissue to save or aid someone’s life. Through the campaign, three individuals signed up to be organ donors.
HAP President and CEO Nicole Stallings said, “HAP commends Pennsylvania hospitals and our partners for their terrific work to support and raise awareness about organ donation. The level of participation in the challenge demonstrates the commitment and dedication hospital teams have for the health of their communities. Increasing the number of organ, eye and tissue donors is critical to helping hospital teams save and improve lives.”
Fulton County Medical Center was one of 118 hospitals statewide that participated in this year’s challenge.
FCMC is a non-profit corporation that owns and operates a 21-bed critical access hospital, level IV trauma center and 67-bed skilled nursing care facility. Founded in 1949, FCMC is located at 214 Peach Orchard, McConnellsburg. It has an active medical staff of nearly 100 physicians, more than 400 employees and 60 active volunteers.
