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Sanford, Dakota Lions launch birth tissue donation program

Contact:
Nathan Aamodt
Sanford Health Media Relations
(701) 200-6080 / nathan.aamodt@sanfordhealth.org

Marcy Dimond, CEBT, CTBS
Chief Executive Officer
Dakota Lions Sight & Health
(605) 373-1008

FARGO, N.D., Jan 26, 2021 – Sanford Health Fargo and Dakota Lions Sight & Health (DLSH) are teaming up to create a birth tissue donation program. Birth tissue donation is gathered after a child is born through a planned Caesarean section and poses absolutely no risk to the mother or baby. The program will coordinate the donation and collection of birth tissue including amniotic membranes and umbilical cords.

Birth tissue contains special cells that stimulate healing and have been shown to have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Additional benefits include:

“We are excited to partner with Dakota Lions Sight & Health to create the first birth tissue donation program in the Upper Midwest,” said Jane Taber, Sanford Health nursing director. “Birth tissue donation is a proven and safe method used to treat numerous injuries and medical conditions. The safety of our patients is our number one priority and being able to offer this program exemplifies our commitment to the best treatment possible.”

Birth tissue, including placenta tissue, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid, is currently being utilized to treat a wide variety of conditions including:

“As an organization we have always focused on ensuring health care professionals have dependable access to the safe donated tissue they need to deliver the very best care to their patients,” said Marcy Dimond, Dakota Lions Sight & Health chief executive officer. “The addition of the birth tissue donation program continues this effort and also supports our mission: To help enable the restoration of the gifts of sight and health.”

For more information on donating birth tissue, visit dakotasight.org and sanfordhealth.org.

About Sanford Health

Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 46 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and 10 countries. Learn more about Sanford Health’s transformative work to improve the human condition at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

About Dakota Lions Sight & Health

Dakota Lions Sight & Health is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, with remote offices in Rapid City, SD, Fargo and Bismarck, ND. Their service area encompasses the states of South and North Dakota, along with northern Nebraska and western Minnesota.

While this organization is a local entity, it has remained on the leading edge of developing technology and techniques such as the new birth tissue donation program. For 30 years Dakota Lions Sight & Health has worked tirelessly to ensure local physicians and researchers have ready access to the highest quality tissue for medical use.

The organization employs nearly 40 full- and part-time staff throughout the Dakota region. Although recovery technicians travel throughout DLSH’s territory, much of the tissue recovery is conducted in the organization’s state-of-the-art, 16,000 sq. ft. headquarters in northwestern Sioux Falls. The facility includes a dedicated laboratory, two surgical recovery suites, in-house instrument sterilization and office space to house all organizational activities.

If you would like to learn more about birth tissue donation or Dakota Lions Sight & Health please visit dakotasight.org or call 800-245-7849.