Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is pleased to be recognized for a second year by Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN), Ontario’s organ and tissue donation and transplantation agency, for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care.
CKHA was presented with the Provincial Conversion Rate Award by Dr. Marat Slessarev, Regional Medical Lead for Organ Donation, TGLN and Paula Schmidt, Hospital Development Coordinator, TGLN. The award is granted to organizations that meet or exceed the TGLN’s target of a 63 per cent conversion rate. The conversion rate represents the percentage of potential organ donors that went on to become actual donors. Organ donation is a complex process and conversion rate reflects how well TGLN and CKHA work together to save lives. In 2018/19, CKHA surpassed the target to achieve a remarkable conversion rate of 100 per cent.
“As a designated Trillium Gift of Life Network hospital since 2012, CKHA has worked closely with TGLN to put best practices in place that support our commitment to organ and tissue donation,” said Lisa Northcott, Vice President, People & Chief Nursing Executive, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. “We are very proud to have been recognized once again with this award and look forward to continuing our work to save and improve lives through organ and tissue donation.”
CKHA is among 30 hospitals and four community partners to be recognized for outstanding efforts to integrate donation into quality end-of-life care in 2018/19.
“Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is an outstanding example of how applying leading donation practices can save lives,” said Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO, Trillium Gift of Life Network. “The award is a reflection of the culture of donation established at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, and a reminder of the work that we still need to do in other communities across Ontario. We will not be complacent.”
Today, more than 1,500 people in Ontario are on the waitlist for a lifesaving organ transplant, and every three days someone will die without one. While the majority of Canadians support donation, only 33 per cent of Ontarians have formally registered their consent for organ and tissue donation. Some people believe that their age or medical condition prevents them from being a donor. In actuality, age does not prevent someone from becoming a donor, and each potential donor is assessed at the time of death for medical suitability. Others may not have registered under the misguided assumption that doctors will not work hard to save a life if that patient is a registered donor, but in fact, the first priority is always to save a life. Donation is only considered after all life-saving efforts are exhausted, there is no chance of recovery and the family accepts the diagnosis of death.
Chatham-Kent exceeds the provincial average of registered organ donors with a registration rate of 47 per cent, ranking 52 out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.
