GBGH seeking community feedback in development of new strategic plan

March 13, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is looking for feedback from the community to help shape the organization’s new strategic plan. GBGH launched its current five-year strategic plan in 2018 and is now in the process of revising that plan to guide the hospital for the next seven years. One of the most important aspects of developing the plan is the inclusion of input from hospital staff/professional staff/volunteers, Board of Directors members, GBGH’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, healthcare partners, unique populations served by the hospital, elected officials and the community.

“This is a tremendously exciting time for GBGH, as we have the opportunity to shape and determine our future directions, in order to best serve our community,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our new strategic plan will span seven years to ensure we have sufficient time to implement our strategy and make meaningful progress toward achieving objectives. Although we are still in the development phase, I can assure you the plan will position GBGH to adapt to the continually evolving acute healthcare environment, ensure we are aligning our services with the needs of our community, and focus on fostering a positive environment in which team members can work, practice and volunteer.”

The strategic plan acts as the organization’s roadmap to guide all its decisions and ensure it is accountable to the community it serves. In addition to the survey, the hospital will hold focus groups to gather feedback from specific stakeholders.

The community survey can be found via the GBGH website (www.gbgh.on.ca) or through the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWFDH3D

GBGH anticipates having the new strategic plan finalized by June 2023.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH awarded for open communication about organ and tissue donation

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was recently honoured by Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) with a Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award. This award is presented to hospitals who exceed TGLN’s target of 90 per cent in having organ and tissue donation discussions with eligible patients/family members. GBGH achieved an eligible approach rate of 100 per cent. This is the first year GBGH has reached this target and received this award. Accepting the award on behalf of GBGH are critical care team members (from left): Leslie Tubman, team lead, Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Robin Tucker, ICU clerk; Nicole Lefaivre, critical care professional practice leader; Samantha Townes, manager, ICU; Kaitlyn Davidson, registered nurse (RN), ICU; and Dan Bedard, RN, Critical Care Float Team.

February 16, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has been recognized with a Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award from Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]), the province’s organ and tissue donation and transplantation agency. This award recognizes GBGH for its outstanding efforts to facilitate a discussion about organ and tissue donation between Ontario Health (TGLN) and eligible patients/families of patients at end of life.

“GBGH is very proud of the partnership with TGLN and the critical care team here has taken our role very seriously as facilitators of a difficult, yet important, discussion between TGLN, patients and families,” says Dr. Khalid Tahir, TGLN medical lead, intensivist and chief of Medicine, GBGH. “This is never an easy conversation because it means the end of life for a patient, but it is so important we not be afraid of facilitating these discussions which helps patients and families be aware of options. One of those options is donation and it can have wide-reaching, life-saving outcomes.”

This is the first time GBGH has exceeded the provincial eligible approach rate target of 90 per cent – set by Ontario Health (TGLN) – achieving 100 per cent in 2021-2022.

“The success of organ and tissue donation in Ontario relies on the hard work and dedication of our health care partners. Georgian Bay General Hospital has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation and this award is a reflection of their commitment to implementing leading donation practices, integrating donation as part of quality end-of-life care, and continuously working to save lives through organ and tissue donation,” says Rebecca Cooper, vice president, Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario Health. “Every Ontarian has the opportunity to demonstrate their support for this life-saving work by registering their consent to organ and tissue donation at BeADonor.ca.”

Despite COVID-19’s continued impact, the province contributed to 807 essential organ transplants while Ontario hospitals supported 302 organ donors and 1885 tissue donors. In 2021-2022, GBGH had four tissue donors enhancing the lives of many.

Approximately 1,300 people in Ontario are currently on the waitlist for a life-saving organ transplant, and every three days someone will die because they did not receive their transplant in time. While more than 22,000 Ontarians have received a lifesaving organ transplant since 2003 and the majority of Canadians say they understand the importance of organ donation, only 35 per cent of Ontarians have formally registered their consent for organ and tissue donation.

Ontario Health’s (TGLN) goal is to achieve 120,000 new registrations between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.

Both Penetanguishene, with 56 per cent, and Midland, with 55 per cent, well exceed the average provincial registration rate of 35 per cent. Penetanguishene ranks 19^th and Midland ranks 26^th for organ donation registration out of 170 communities in Ontario.

 Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca