Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is pleased to be recognized 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.
Hospital officials say CKHA was presented with the Provincial Conversion Rate Award during TGLN’s Hospital Performance Awards web broadcast on December 2, 2020.
The award is granted to organizations that meet or exceed 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, CKHA officials say.
Organ donation is a complex process and conversion rate reflects how well TGLN and CKHA work together to save lives.
In 2019/20, CKHA surpassed the target to achieve a remarkable conversion rate of 100 per cent. This is CKHA’s second year in a row achieving a 100 per cent conversion rate, hospital officials say.
“As a designated Trillium Gift of Life Network hospital since 2012, we appreciate the outstanding support TGLN always provides us,” stated Lisa Northcott, Vice President, People and Chief Nursing Executive, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, in a press release.
“This is a significant contributing factor to our success in organ donation over the years. Our staff and physicians, along with the leadership of CKHA’s organ donation committee, are to be congratulated and commended for their continuous efforts to integrate donation into quality end-of-life care.”
CKHA is among 30 hospitals to be recognized for outstanding efforts to integrate donation into quality end-of-life care in 2019/20, hospital officials added.
“Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation in Ontario and this award is a reflection of that important work,” stated Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO, Trillium Gift of Life Network, in a media release.
“The collaboration and partnership we have with our hospitals is critical to saving lives. Every Ontarian can play a part by registering to donate at BeADonor.ca. Now is the time to think about what we can do to protect the health of others, and this includes saving more lives through donation.”
Today, more than 1,600 people in Ontario are on the waitlist for a lifesaving organ transplant, and every three days someone will die waiting.
Over 90 per cent of Ontarians support donation, yet only 35 per cent have formally registered their consent for organ and tissue donation, hospital officials say.
While some people believe that their age or medical condition prevents them from donating, in actuality, neither age nor health precludes someone from becoming a donor.
Every potential donor is assessed at the time of death for medical suitability.
Others may believe that doctors won’t work hard to save a life if someone is a registered donor, but in fact, saving a life is always the priority.
Donation is only considered after all lifesaving efforts are exhausted, there is no chance of recovery, and the family accepts the diagnosis of death, hospital officials say.
One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 75 more through the gift of tissue.
By registering consent to donate, you make your family aware of your decision to save lives.
Chatham-Kent exceeds the provincial average of registered organ donors with a registration rate of 50 per cent, ranking 46 out of 170 communities in Ontario, CKHA officals added.
Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.
