Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Awarded for Championing Organ and Tissue Donation
CHATHAM-KENT: November 2, 2021 – Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is pleased to be recognized by Ontario Health (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. CKHA was presented with the Provincial Conversion Rate Award and Award of Excellence during Ontario Health’s (TGLN) Hospital Performance Awards web broadcast on November 2, 2021.
The Provincial Conversion Rate Award is granted to organizations that meet or exceed the target conversion rate of 63 percent set by Ontario Health (TGLN). The conversion rate is the percentage of potential organ donors (patients who die in a hospital setting and are deemed medically suitable for donation) who went on to become actual donors. Organ donation is a complex process and the conversion rate reflects how well Ontario Health (TGLN) and CKHA work together to save lives. In 2020/21, CKHA surpassed the target to achieve a conversion rate of 100 per cent.
The Award of Excellence is given to hospitals for meeting or exceeding the provincial target for its conversion rate or routine notification rate for four or more consecutive years, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the implementation of donation leading practices. This is CKHA’s fourth consecutive year meeting or exceeding the provincial conversion rate and first Award of Excellence.
“Since 2012, CKHA has worked closely with TGLN to put best practices in place that support our commitment to organ and tissue donation. With their support, and the leadership of CKHA’s organ donation committee, our staff and physicians have demonstrated a continuous commitment to integrating donation into quality end-of-life care,” said Lori Marshall, President and CEO, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. “I want to congratulate our team on this significant achievement. We are very proud to have earned these awards and look forward to continuing our work to save and improve lives through organ and tissue donation.”
CKHA is one of 34 hospitals to be awarded a 2020/21 Ontario Health (TGLN) Hospital Achievement Award.
“CKHA has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation in Ontario and this award is a reflection of that important work,” said 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.
Chatham-Kent exceeds the province with a registration rate of 50 per cent, ranking 54 out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.
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Media contact:
Emily Field, Communications Specialist
Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
For more information on organ and tissue donation in Ontario, or to learn more about
the Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) Hospital Achievement Awards, please
contact: mediainquiries@ontariohealth.ca or 1.877.266.6031.
