Des Peres Top Office in the State, Again

DHSS and the Organ Donation Advisory Committee regularly recognize driver's license offices that have enrolled at least 50% of those renewing their licenses in any quarter into the Organ Donor Registry. The Des Peres License Office remained the top office in the state and was the only office to maintain that target for the entire year.

But four other offices achieved 50% registry participation during one quarter of 2002. These are: AAA Kansas City, Chesterfield, Clayton and Nevada. In recognition of this achievement, each of these license offices received a plaque and words of thanks from grateful transplant recipients and donor families.

In October 2002, the staff of AAA Kansas City were recognized for their 52% registry participation. Organ Donation Advisory Board Member, Diedra Thompson, presented a recognition plaque on behalf of the committee and the Organ Donor Program. Several transplant recipients and donor family members participated in the ceremony. They thanked the staff and shared their experiences with organ donation and transplantation. Heart-felt stories were told by Beulah Langford and Tommy Warren. Beulah explained her experience and the rewarding friendship with her grandson's kidney recipient, Tommy Warren. Beulah and Tommy both live in the local area and use the AAA Kansas City Office, so their words of thanks were particularly meaningful. AAA President Ken Johnson and several other corporate administrators also participated in the ceremony and saluted the accomplishment of the license office staff.

The top branch office in the state for 2002 was Deer Creek in Maplewood, Missouri. An average of 44% of applicants at the Deer Creek office signed up for the Organ Donor Registry. That is more than 23,400 people who enrolled in the registry at this license office alone.

Driver's license offices throughout the state support the program by ensuring applicants are offered the option of registry participation and the opportunity to contribute $1 to the Organ Donor Program Fund. DHSS appreciates all the support for the Organ Donor Program. It is because of the close collaboration with the Missouri Department of Revenue and the driver license offices that the Missouri Organ Donor Program has been a success.