ANATOMIC GIFT FOUNDATION INC

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT IN 2023: A. AGF MAINTAINED ITS ACCREDITATION BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TISSUE BANKS (AATB) AS A NON-TRANSPLANT DONATION ORGANIZATION UPON PASSING OUR ON-SITE EVERY THREE-YEAR CYCLE ACCREDITATION INSPECTION; WITH A LEVEL A DESIGNATION. B. AGF SENIOR STAFF-MEMBERS HAVE DONATED THEIR TIME AS MEMBER PARTICIPANTS IN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS IN THE FURTHERANCE NON-TRANSPLANT ANATOMIC DONATION (NADO) AND MEDICAL EDUCATION COMMUNITIES; INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO; AATB: NADO COUNCIL, EDUCATION COMMITTEE, MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR PRESENTER - MOST IMPORTANTLY ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF AATB IN 2022 (WHICH CONTINUED IN 2023), ASSOCIATION FOR BIOSKILLS LABORATORY EXCELLENCE (ABLE): BOARD MEMBER, GUIDANCE DOCUMENT COMMITTEE, MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE. C. ALL STAFF WHO WERE DUE TO SUBMIT THEIR CERTIFIED TISSUE BANK SPECIALIST (CTBS) CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEU)S TO RE-CERTIFY WITH AATB IN YEAR 2023 HAVE DONE SO AND HAVE KEPT THEIR CERTIFICATION. D. AGF MAINTAINED ITS NEW YORK LICENSE AS A NON-TRANSPLANT ANATOMIC BANK. E. AGF MAINTAINED ITS LICENSES & PERMITS BY THE MARYLAND BOARD OF MORTICIANS FOR OPERATING A CREMATORY; AS WELL AS FOR MORTUARY TRANSPORTERS F. AGF PASSED ALL SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTIONS BY VARIOUS ENTITIES, I.E., FIRE MARSHALL, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT (BOTH AIR & RADIATION), ETC. G. AGF HAS CONTINUED ITS QUALITY SYSTEMS; WHICH INCLUDE REGULAR AUDITING AND REPORTING OF FINDINGS. II. 2023 STATISTICS: A. DONORS 1. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 1,841 DONORS IN 2023 (REPRESENTING AN OVERALL 24% INCREASE FROM THAT IN 2022) DUE TO THE GRADUAL LOOSENING OF THE PANDEMIC CONCERNS (LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADVICE & INDIVIDUALS' CONCERNS FOR POTENTIAL INFECTION, THERE WERE SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON GATHERING SIZE, INTER-STATE TRAVEL, ETC., PLACED ON THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL EDUCATION TRAINING SESSIONS. AGF CONTINUED COVID-19 SCREENING AND TESTING PROTOCOLS AND KEPT UP WITH BREAKING NEWS IN A QUICKLY EVOLVING PANDEMIC CONCERNS). THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TO KEEP PACE WITH THE CLIENTS' NEEDS INCREASING (OVER PANDEMIC 2020 THROUGH 2022 NEEDS), AGF CONTINUED ITS COVERAGE AREA TO ITS HOME STATE OF MARYLAND; AND THEN REGIONAL STATES, AND GRADUALLY ADDED PRE-REGISTERED DONORS FROM STATES OUT OF AREA. THE BREAKDOWN OF DONORS BY AREA WERE: MD 36% (2% DECREASE OVER 2022), REGIONAL 44% (11% INCREASE OVER 2022) AND OUT-OF-AREA 20% (2% INCREASE OVER 2022). MANY POTENTIAL DONORS WHO HAD EITHER CONTRACTED COVID-19, HAD SYMPTOMS WITHOUT A NEGATIVE TEST, OR HAD DIRECT CONTACT WITH SOMEONE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 WERE NOT ACCEPTED; REGARDLESS OF GEOGRAPHIC AREA. 2. EACH DONOR IS EVALUATED BASED ON A MYRIAD OF ITEMS TO MAKE AN INDIVIDUALIZED TISSUE RECOVERY PLAN. CONSIDERATIONS ARE MADE AS TO AGE, SEX, SURGICAL HX, PATHOLOGY, BONE & JOINT QUALITY, ETC., AS WELL AS ANY REQUESTS FROM THE DONOR BEFORE THEIR DEATH OR FROM THEIR NEXT OF KIN AS TO PREFERENCE FOR PLACEMENT TO ANY DISEASE OR TYPE OF SURGERY OR SPECIFIC USE). 3. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE INDEED CHALLENGING DUE TO BEING SHORT-STAFFED AFTER SEVERAL EMPLOYEES DID NOT RETURN TO WORK AS BUSINESS GRADUALLY RESUMED TOWARDS HISTORICALLY NORMAL NUMBER IN 2023. HOWEVER, THE COMMITMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION CONTINUED TO BE DEMONSTRATED BY ALL OF THOSE IN MIDDLE AND UPPER MANAGEMENT, ALONG WITH SOME NEW STAFF, AND KEPT THINGS GOING AND ON TRACK WITH FEWER STAFF. B. FUTURE DONORS: IN 2023 WE CONTINUED TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS TO BE PRE- REGISTERED WITH AGF TO BE FUTURE DONORS. THIS INFORMATION IS REVIEWED, CATALOGED AND ENTERED INTO OUR DATABASE FOR FUTURE RETRIEVAL, TO ASSIST THE FAMILIES AT THE TIME OF DEATH. DONOR AND FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR STAFF CONTACT OUR REGISTERED FUTURE DONORS EVERY FEW YEARS TO UPDATE THEIR MEDICAL RECORDS AND NEXT-OF-KIN CONTACT INFORMATION. OF THE 1,841 DONORS IN 2023: 1. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 939 NEW REGISTERED (FUTURE) DONORS IN 2023. 2. TOTAL REGISTERED DONORS AT THE END OF 2023 TOPPED 25,000. 3. REFERRAL SOURCES OF THE 1841 DONORS IN 2023, WERE: A. ONLINE SEARCHES B. FAMILY OR FRIENDS THAT HAVE DONTATED THROUGH AGR C. HOSPICE END-OF-LIFE CARE AGENCIES D. HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKERS AND/OR CHAPLAINS E. FUNERAL HOMES, CREMATION SERVICES F. STATE ANATOMY BOARDS G. TRANSPLANT AGENCIES (ORGAN, TISSUE AND/OR EYE) C. TISSUE PLACEMENT & USE: A TOTAL OF 7,148 SPECIMENS WERE PLACED TO APPROVED HUMAN TISSUE APPLICANTS IN 2023; FULFILLING 1,812 CLIENT REQUESTS FOR TISSUE IN BOTH OUR IN-HOUSE BIOSKILLS LAB USE; OR AS SHIPMENTS TO CLIENTS' FACILITIES (WHICH IS THE PREDOMINANCE OF PLACEMENTS). 1. IN-HOUSE SPECIMEN USE: WE ACCOMMODATED 66 (A 7% DECREASE FROM 2022) ON- SITE "BIOSKILLS LAB EVENTS IN 2023, SERVING HUNDREDS OF LEARNERS. 2. A TOTAL OF 221 (A 22% DECREASE OVER 2022) SPECIMENS WERE USED ON SITE WITH OUR IN-HOUSE BIOSKILLS LAB FACILITY: WE HOSTED AND PROVIDED SPECIMENS FOR 66 (A 3% INCREASE OVER 2022) LAB SESSIONS IN 2023. THE BREAKDOWN BY TYPE WAS: A. PHYSICIAN / SURGEON TRAINING: 15 SESSIONS (A 33% DECREASE OVER 2022) B. RESCUE / LIFE-SAVING / EMS TRAINING (ANATOMY AND PROCEDURE PRACTICUM LABS: 48 SESSIONS (A 9% INCREASE OVER 2022) C. STUDENT /ANATOMY AND PROCEDURE PRACTICUM LAB EVENTS (INCLUDES HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, COLLEGE LEVEL AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT EDUCATION SESSIONS): WITH A TOTAL OF 0 SESSION IN THIS GENRE (1 LESS THAN 2022). THE DECREASE IN STUDENT LABS WAS DUE TO A CONTINUED LACK OF STAFF TO FACILITATE THEM; AS WELL AS CONTINUED COVID-19 CONCERNS IN LARGE GROUP SESSIONS. 3. IN 2023, WE HAD AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RESCUE/ LIFE-SAVING/ EMS TRAINING COURSES; WITH A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PHYSICIAN/ SURGEON TRAINING. 4. IN 2023, WE ALSO HAD 3 TRANSPLANT RECOVERY TRAINING PROGRAMS. DURING THESE SIMULATION LABS, NEW EMPLOYEES OF 2 DIFFERENT TISSUE TRANSPLANT AGENCIES WERE TRAINED ON HOW TO RECOVER NUMEROUS BONE AND TENDON SPECIMENS FROM WHOLE BODY CADAVERIC DONORS; UTILIZING STERILE TECHNIQUES. THESE SESSIONS PROVIDE TRANSPLANT RECOVERY TECHNICIANS WITH INCREASED CONFIDENCE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THESE SKILLS ON A PRECIOUS TRANSPLANT TISSUE DONOR - REDUCING POTENTIAL ERRORS; AND RUINING BONE AND TENDON TISSUES. 5. AGR STAFF ACCOMPANIED 458 (A 30% INCREASE OVER 2022) TISSUE SHIPMENTS; PER REQUEST OF THE RESEARCHER OR MEDICAL EDUCATOR. III. PROGRAM INITIATIVES THAT ASSIST THE ORGANIZATION TO MEET ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS: 1. PUBLIC & PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL / OUTREACH ACTIVITIES 2023: THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO THE SOMEWHAT CURTAILING OF THE PANDEMIC. WE ANTICIPATE BEING ABLE TO INCREASE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION OUTREACH ACTIVITIES EVEN MORE IN 2024. A. ATTENDED NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION TO TABLE AT THEIR "BIG ASK BIG GIVE" EVENT AT UMMC B. ATTENDED NJ HOME CARE AND HOSPICE CONFERENCE AS A SPEAKER THIS YEAR TO TALK ABOUT END-OF-LIFE PLANNING. C. ATTENDED THE NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION ANNUAL WALK D. MD HOSPICE CONFERENCE: WE SPOKE AT THIS EVENT AS WELL TO DISCUSS AGR/ DONATION THROUGH OUR PROGRAM E. INFINITE LEGACY FUN RUN F. MAILED MARKETING MAILED MULTIPLE "MARKETING BOXES" WHICH INCLUDE PENS, BROCHURES, HAND SANITIZERS TO: BRIDGING LIFE HOSPICE, JOURNEY HOSPICE, CHESTERTOWN NURSING AND REHAB, JANSEN FAMILY FH, FREDERICK HEALTH HOSPICE G. PRESENTATIONS (NUMEROUS) BY KEY STAFF REGARDING NON-TRANSPLANT ANATOMICAL DONATION (NADO) ORGANIZATIONS' WORK VIA BOTH IN-PERSON AND RECORDED TALKS AND SEMINARS, WHICH WERE SEEN BY NUMEROUS MEMBERS OF THE TISSUE AND ORGAN TRANSPLANT COMMUNITY VIA AATB'S NATIONAL MEETINGS AND EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR SERIES (LIVE AND RECORDED). 2. STAFF EDUCATION, CREDENTIALING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION A. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TISSUE BANKS: CERTIFIED TISSUE BANK SPECIALIST (CTBS) STAFF CERTIFICATION AND ON-GOING CONTINUING EDUCATION (CONTINUALLY ACCRUE THE REQUIRED 40 CEUS OVER EVERY 3 YEARS TO MAINTAIN CERTIFICATION). B. MAJORITY OF MANAGEMENT (9 / 9 STAFF) HAVE THE CTBS CREDENTIAL. THIS IS A CONTINUED TREND FROM LAST YEAR. C. CONTINUING EDUCATION, AS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN STAFF'S VARIOUS LICENSES (I.E. MORTICIAN'S LICENSE AND REGISTERED DIETITIAN) D. SUICIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION E. MEDICAL EDUCATION: TERMINOLOGY, NORMAL AGING, DISEASES, DISEASE AGENTS, SURGICAL PROCEDURES, ETC. THROUGH WEB-BASED PROGRAMS BY AMERICAN NURSES' ASSOCIATION, RN.COM, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF TISSUE BANKS, ASSOCIATION OF OPERATING ROOM NURSES, MEDLINE UNIVERSITY, PFEIDLER ENTERPRISES, ETC. F. IN-HOUSE EDUCATION REGARDING BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGEN, EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN, HAZARDOUS COMMUNICATION, HUMAN DIGNITIES ACT, ETC. G. CREMATORY OPERATOR CERTIFICATION (4 STAFF-MEMBERS) H. MORTUARY TRANSPORTER CREDENTIALING (ALL ANATOMIST AND CREMATORY STAFF AND MAJORITY OF TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT) I. CPR BASIC LIFE SUPPORT TRAINING. 3. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO TISSUE END-USERS: INCLUDES RESEARCH STUDY DESIGN, SPECIMEN OR DONOR TYPE SELECTION, FEASIBILITY, LOGISTIC CONSTRAINTS, PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS, ETC. A. PARTICIPATION WITH PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: ACCREDITATION, LICENSING, PERMITS AND C