PEMBROKE – Pembroke Regional Hospital has been recognized by Trillium Gift of Life Network, 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.
The hospital received three awards at a special presentation held at the hospital Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24.
The first was the Provincial Conversion Rate Award for meeting or exceeding the target of a 58 percent conversion rate set by TGLN. Organ donation is a complex process and the conversion rate reflects how well TGLN and PRH work together to save lives. This is the first year PRH has received this award.
In addition, for the second time, the hospital received the Provincial Routine Notification Award for achieving a 100 per cent routine notification rate throughout 2017/2018. Routine notification is the rate at which hospitals notify Trillium Gift of Life Network when a patient has died and there may be potential for organ and/or tissue donation.
Additionally, Francois Lemaire, Vice-President of Patient Services – Acute Care and Chief Nursing Executive who is the local Executive Lead for TGLN, was awarded the Hospital Donation Champion Award given to healthcare professionals who are exceptional advocates for organ and tissue donation, while Dr.Tom Hurley, Kristie Tousignant, Tina Davidson and Kim Haley were recognized as Hidden Heroes.
“PRH recognizes the potential and therapeutic value to recipients and bereaved families who give consent to organ and tissue donation and its place as an integral part of quality end-of-life care,” said Mr. Lemaire. “Our team and our staff believe in organ and tissue donation. Our results demonstrate our engagement by providing to our patients and families the option of donation.”
Pembroke Regional Hospital is one of 29 hospitals and partners to be awarded a 2017/18 Trillium Gift of Life Network Hospital Award and one of seven to receive multiple awards this year.
“We are proud to acknowledge the important contributions of our hospital partners because the success of organ and tissue donation in Ontario relies on their hard work and dedication,” says Ronnie Gavsie President and CEO, Trillium Gift of Life Network. “This award reflects the continued commitment of Pembroke Regional Hospital to implement donation best practices and offer families the opportunity to make a lifesaving choice.”
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 preclude 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 won’t 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.
Pembroke has a registration rate of 34 per cent, ranking 143 out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.
