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A clinical care nurse manager with the Memorial Health System was honored a month ago at Lifeline of Ohio's Champions of Hope Gala.
Bernita Watson was among 20 individuals and organizations honored as heroes their roles in saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.
Waton received the Donation Liaison Champion award for her work, advocacy and commitment to Lifeline of Ohio's mission to save and heal lives through the gift of donation.
In the past year, Watson enhanced the consistency of referrals and the quality of care for all patients in the health system.
Despite overseeing four units at Marietta Memorial Hospital, Watson reviewed and revised every policy and procedure related to donation within Memorial Health System to ensure each aligns with the policies of Lifeline of Ohio. She goes above and beyond to ensure that the opportunity for donation is maximized every time, when appropriate.
Watson also plans Honor Walks, spends time with a donor's family and loved ones and supports other team members throughout the process of the donation.
About 104,000 people nationwide are waiting for a lifesaving transplant and 20 times a day an individual dies for lack of an available organ. This is why the work of donation champions like Watson is so important, the health system said.
Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit regional health system led by a volunteer board of residents from the community. It offers a network of locations and specialties provided by over 3,000 team members including three hospitals, outpatient service sites, provider clinics and a virtual urgent care app, MemorialCareNow.
Lifeline of Ohio is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes and coordinates the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio serves 97 hospitals and facilities in 38 counties in Ohio and two in West Virginia and is designated as an organ procurement organization through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.