Iowa Donor Network honors Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner's Office for donation referrals

Iowa Donor Network presented the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner's Office with a Legacy Award during the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors meeting May 13, citing the office's high referral rate and partnership on donation best practices.

An Iowa Donor Network representative told the board the county's medical examiner office referred 123 deaths to the network in 2024, resulting in nine tissue donors, and that year-to-date in 2025 the office had referred 67 deaths, resulting in five tissue donors. "Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner's office is incredible with their collaboration with us," the representative said, noting the office trains new hires on the network's procedures and encourages staff to call the donor network for every death so families can be offered donation as an option.

The representative said there is no legal requirement for medical examiner agencies to contact the donor network — only the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires hospitals to follow certain donation protocols — so the county office's consistent referrals represent an organizational practice rather than a regulatory obligation. The donor representative also described how tissue donors can affect many recipients and shared a family quote about the value of donation.

The board recognized the medical examiner team at the meeting; several staff members and the county's medical examiner were introduced and photographed with supervisors.