ST. LOUIS, MO (April 14, 2023) – SSM Health has joined the Living Donor Circle of Excellence as its newest member, adopting a policy to provide special paid time off for six weeks to employees while they recover from surgery after choosing to become a living donor.
The program, an initiative of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), celebrates employers who implement such internal policies. The most common organ donations are a kidney or a portion of the liver.
“Donating an organ is an altruistic gesture that aligns completely with our values and our Mission,” said Sherry Ward, SSM Health Vice President, Total Rewards. “We’re honored to support our colleagues who would consider such a selfless act.”
SSM Health’s announcement of its new policy coincides with National Donate Life Month, observed every April to raise awareness about donation, encourage donor registration, and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.
Krista Lentine, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Living Donation at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital and a SLUCare nephrologist, said, “As a transplant physician, I have seen firsthand the impact of providing living donors with support during recovery after donation surgery. This policy helps living-donor employees recover without incurring financial loss in sharing the gift of life, and illustrates the dedication of our hospital, health system and transplant program to reducing barriers to living donation and living donor transplantation.” Dr. Lentine also serves as Chair of the AST Living Donor Community of Practice.
Today, more than 100,000 patients are waiting for a life-saving kidney or liver transplant. Of the transplants performed in 2021, living donors accounted for 24% of kidney transplants and 6% of liver transplants. Financial disincentives are a barrier for many potential living organ donors. Living organ donation typically includes a four- to six-week recovery period and people typically use vacation time or take unpaid leave during this period to donate.
About SSM Health
SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health system serving the comprehensive health needs of communities across the Midwest through a robust and fully integrated health care delivery system. The organization’s 40,000 team members and more than 12,800 providers are committed to providing exceptional health care services and revealing God’s healing presence to everyone they serve.
With care delivery sites in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, SSM Health includes 23 hospitals, more than 300 physician offices and other outpatient and virtual care services, 13 post-acute facilities, comprehensive home care and hospice services, a pharmacy benefit company, a health insurance company and an accountable care organization. It is one of the largest employers in every community it serves. For more information, visit ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
