AllograftPossibilities.org Meets Unmet Need for Consumer-Oriented Information on Tissue Donation, Transplantation on the Internet

Educational website from nonprofit tissue bank, AlloSource, grows rapidly, honors tissue donors, spotlights tissue transplant recipients

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AlloSource

Jul 28, 2011, 11:57 ET

CENTENNIAL, Colo., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AllograftPossibilities.org has rapidly grown into the premier source for straightforward information on tissue donation and transplant on the web. Although it has the same life-saving and life-enhancing benefits of organ donation, tissue donation is still lesser understood by the general public. The nonprofit AlloSource, a leading developer, processor, and distributor of bone and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures around the world, created the educational website, AllograftPossibilities.org, to fill an unmet need for consumer information about tissue donation and transplantation on the internet.

Tissue donation rates are lower than organ donation rates and AlloSource found that there was not an online resource dedicated to talking about the benefits of tissue transplantation. The company wanted to honor donor families and encourage others to be both organ and tissue donors by presenting straightforward case studies and medical information on tissue transplant procedures. The easy-to-access online source provides interactive opportunities to ask questions, share stories and connect with others. The website has also become a valued source of information for organ procurement organizations, which work with families throughout the donation process and coordinate transplants.

"Patients presented with the option of a tissue transplant had few places to go beyond their surgeon to get information. As many people are now consumers of online information, we wanted to create a place that these patients could go to have their questions answered and to read about the donation process and surgical outcomes," said Thomas Cycyota, AlloSource President and CEO. "Encouraging donation and honoring donors is a cornerstone of AlloSource's mission and this site is a tribute to those who make our jobs possible."

In less than two years, the website has already generated impressive web traffic for such a niche topic. It has received more than 10,000 page views and other key indicators for growth also look positive: number of visits, time spent on the site, bounce rate and percentage of new visitors in year two have all beat those from year one.

Key accomplishments of the website include:

Promotes tissue donation and honors families touched by the donation process
Helps potential patients learn more about the donation side of allograft transplant surgery and better understand the potential surgical outcomes
Brings to life the stories of tissue donation by publishing case studies from recipients and donor families
Quickly provides expert answers to incoming questions from the public
Shares consumer news on updates about medical advancements related to tissue transplantation
Provides organ procurement organizations with resources that can be easily downloaded, printed or emailed to assist in their interactions with donor families or in their event and marketing efforts
Shares the medical perspective on tissue transplantation to help readers understand how doctors of various specialties utilize allograft tissue
Provides a forum for people touched by tissue donation or transplantation to share their stories publicly
Promotes donation events throughout the country

For more information, visit: www.allograftpossibilities.org.

About AlloSource

AlloSource is a non-profit company that offers more than 200 precise bone, skin, soft-tissue and custom-machined allografts for use in an array of life-saving and life-enhancing medical procedures. As the world's leader in fresh cartilage tissue used for joint repair and skin allografts to heal severe burns, AlloSource has grown into one of the largest tissue networks in the country with more than 350 employees. It is the world's largest processor of live cellular bone growth substitutes and delivers unparalleled expertise and customer service to its growing network of surgeons, partners and the country's most reputable organ procurement organizations. As one of the leading innovators in maximizing tissue donation with the goal of offering optimal solutions for healthcare providers and their patients, AlloSource is recognized by the medical community for its ability to process and provide high quality tissue. The company is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. For more information, please visit allosource.org and allograftpossibilities.org.

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Thomas Cycyota

http://www.profnetconnect.com/thomas_cycyota

SOURCE AlloSource