GBGH awarded for championing organ and tissue donation

Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) presented Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) with a Provincial Routine Notification Rate Award for achieving 100 per cent routine notification throughout 2018-2019. Routine notification is the rate at which hospitals notify TGLN when a patient has died and there may be the potential for organ and/or tissue donation. GBGH is one of only three hospitals to meet this target in 2018-2019. From left: Catharine Ritter, hospital development coordinator, TGLN; Janet MacLean, vice president, Clinical Donation Services, TGLN; Dr. Khalid Tahir, medical lead, TGLN and GBGH; Kaitlyn McCague, TGLN lead, GBGH; Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH; and Lucille Perreault, chief nursing executive and vice president, clinical programs. GBGH.

November 8, 2019 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was 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 in 2018/19.

GBGH was presented with Provincial Routine Notification Rate Award by TGLN at the hospital’s annual awards dinner. The Provincial Routine Notification Rate Award is presented to hospitals who achieve 100 per cent routine notification throughout 2018-2019. Routine notification is the rate at which hospitals notify TGLN when a patient has died and there may be the potential for organ and/or tissue donation. This marks the second year GBGH is receiving this recognition.

“Routine notification is an important first step in connecting potential organ donors with TGLN,” says Lucille Perreault, chief nursing executive and vice president, Clinical Services at GBGH. “Hospitals play a critical role in discussing the possibility of organ donation with patients near end of life and their families. Our team of physicians and healthcare staff work diligently to identify potential donors and discuss notification with 100 per cent of potential future organ donors or their families, earning us this award.”

GBGH is one of 30 hospitals and four community partners to be awarded a 2018/19 Trillium Gift of Life Network Achievement Award. In 2018-2019, GBGH had 13 tissue donors enhancing the lives of many.

“GBGH is an outstanding example of how applying leading donation practices can save lives,” says Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO, Trillium Gift of Life Network. “The award is a reflection of the culture of donation established at GBGH, 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 1,600 people in Ontario are on the waitlist for a life-saving organ transplant, and every three days someone will die without one. While the majority of Canadians support donation only 34 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 priority is always to save a life. Donation is only considered after all lifesaving efforts are exhausted, there is no chance of recovery, and the family accepts the diagnosis of death.

Midland and Penetanguishene – with 54 per cent and 53 per cent respectively – exceed the province with a registration rate of 34 per cent. Midland ranks 19th and Penetanguishene ranks 22nd for organ donation registration out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.

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Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca