BCHS associate receives Gift of Life state award

Penny Shaull, director of health information management at Battle Creek Health System was one of only six people in the state of Michigan to receive the 2009 Community Service and Professional Service Award from the Gift of Life Foundation.

Shaull has improved organ donation in Battle Creek by speeding up the hospital's notification given to Gift of Life when a patient becomes a potential organ donor. She implemented a 'pop-up' computer notification for nurses as they chart medical information, prompting them to call Gift of Life. That message system is now used throughout Trinity Health, which includes Battle Creek. Timely calls to Gift of Life improve the potential for positive donation results.

Gift of Life, Michigan's only full-service organ recovery organization, is an intermediary between donors and hospitals when a donation occurs. It also works with the Secretary of State to manage the state's Organ Donor Registry.

The Gift of Life Foundation, a separate organization, supports Gift of Life's mission. It provides financial help for transplant recipients in need, gives research grants and helps pay for programs that promote organ and tissue donation.

Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission. Battle Creek Health System, a member of the Mercy Cancer Network, is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm) and 2010 Five Star rated for joint replacement surgery and total knee replacement. HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.