Published On: November 2, 2021
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) was recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2020/21.
STEGH was presented with two awards this year:
– The Provincial Conversion Rate Award – for meeting or exceeding the target conversion rate of 63 percent set by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network).
– The Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award – for meeting or exceeding the eligible approach rate target of 90% set by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network). This eligible approach rate award recognizes hospitals for demonstrating leading practices by facilitating a donation discussion with eligible patients/families of patients at end of life.
“We are proud to be one of 34 hospitals in the province to be awarded a 2020/21 Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) Hospital Achievement Award,” says Dr. Fahad Sheikh, Intensivist/Internal Medicine; Physician Lead, Trillium Gift of Life. “The compassion and heartfelt approach taken by the staff in our Intensive Care Unit is vital as they support families through the process of organ and tissue donation. It is an honour to assist those who wish to give the ultimate gift of life.”
“STEGH has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation in Ontario and this award is a reflection of that important work,” says Judy Linton, Chief Nursing Executive & Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs Executive. Ontario Health.
“The collaboration and partnership Ontario Health (TGLN) has with our hospitals is critical to saving lives and we are so appreciative of their ongoing commitment. Every Ontarian has the opportunity to demonstrate their support for this life-saving work by registering their consent to donate organs and tissue at BeADonor.ca.”
Today, more than 1,500 people 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.
One donor can save up to 8 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.
St. Thomas exceeds the province with a registration rate of 47 per cent, ranking 85 out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit https://beadonor.ca/ to register or find out more.