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Forty-four Ontario hospitals recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) for their commitment to transforming lives through organ and tissue donation

Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) is pleased to announce that 44 hospitals across the province are being honoured through the 2022-2023 Hospital Achievement Awards. These accolades are presented annually and recognize the hard work and dedication demonstrated by hospitals over the past year as they’ve worked to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care.

Awards span five categories that spotlight excellence within the organ and tissue donation process. They include:

  • Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Conversion Rate, awarded to 25 hospitals. 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.
  • Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Routine Notification Rate, awarded to two hospitals for achieving a 100 per cent routine notification rate. Routine notification rate is the percentage at which hospitals notify Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) when a patient has died and there may be potential for organ and/or tissue donation.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award – Provincial Routine Notification Rate, awarded to five hospitals for demonstrating leading practices in routine notification with only a single missed notification in 2022/23.
  • Award of Excellence, awarded to seven hospitals, for meeting or exceeding the provincial target for conversion rate or routine notification rate for four or more consecutive years, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the implementation of donation leading practices.
  • Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Eligible Approach Rate, awarded to 31 hospitals. This award recognizes hospitals for demonstrating leading practices by facilitating a donation discussion with eligible patients/families of patients at end of life.

On average, in Ontario there are 1,400 individuals in need of a life-saving organ transplant and thousands more who require life-restoring tissue transplants. Tragically, every three days someone will die waiting for an organ, while those awaiting valuable tissue will continue to experience a lower quality of life.

The success of organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Ontario hinges on the unwavering efforts of hospital partners who work tirelessly to ensure that Ontarians have the opportunity to help others through the gift of life. The Hospital Achievement Awards recognize this crucial work and the profound impact it can have on those in need of an organ or tissue donation.

“Ontario’s hospitals have made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation across the province and we are proud to partner with their exemplary teams of healthcare professionals throughout the year to continue this vital work,” said Rebecca Cooper, Vice President, Ontario Health (Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network). “By ensuring that the wishes of donors are realized, we honour their selflessness and the legacy they intend to leave behind. Every Ontarian has the potential to save or significantly enhance a life one day by registering at BeADonor.ca and speaking to their family about their donation decision.”

“Organ donation is a complex process; one that requires teamwork, trust and compassion. These awards recognize the achievement of these hospitals and are a testament to the donation culture and commitment within them,” said Dr. Andrew Healey, Provincial Medical Director - Donation, Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network).

A complete list of 2022-2023 Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) Hospital Achievement Award recipients is below:

Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Conversion Rate

  • Bluewater Health
  • Brant Community Healthcare System
  • Cambridge Memorial Hospital
  • Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
  • Guelph General Hospital
  • Joseph Brant Hospital
  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre
  • Lakeridge Health
  • London Health Sciences Centre
  • Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare
  • Niagara Health
  • North Bay Regional Health Centre
  • Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
  • Peterborough Regional Health Centre
  • Quinte Health
  • Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
  • Southlake Regional Health Centre
  • St. Mary’s General Hospital
  • St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital
  • The Ottawa Hospital
  • Timmins and District Hospital
  • University Health Network
  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  • Windsor Regional Hospital
  • Woodstock General Hospital

Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Routine Notification Rate

  • Pembroke Regional Hospital
  • Temiskaming Hospital

Outstanding Achievement Award – Provincial Routine Notification Rate

  • Blanche River Health - Kirkland Lake Site
  • CHEO
  • The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  • West Parry Sound Health Centre

Award of Excellence

  • Guelph General Hospital
  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre
  • Lakeridge Health
  • Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
  • Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  • Windsor Regional Hospital

Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Eligible Approach Rate

  • Bluewater Health
  • Brockville General Hospital
  • Chatham-Kent Health Alliance
  • CHEO
  • Cornwall Community Hospital
  • Guelph General Hospital
  • Kingston Health Sciences Centre
  • Lakeridge Health
  • Humber River Hospital
  • Mackenzie Health
  • Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare
  • Oak Valley Health
  • Pembroke Regional Hospital
  • Queensway Carleton Hospital
  • Quinte Health
  • Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
  • Scarborough Health Network
  • St. Mary’s General Hospital
  • St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital
  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  • The Ottawa Hospital
  • Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
  • Timmins and District Hospital
  • Toronto East Health Network
  • Trillium Health Partners
  • Unity Health Toronto
  • University Health Network
  • University of Ottawa Heart Institute
  • William Osler Health System
  • Windsor Regional Hospital
  • Woodstock Hospital

Key facts

  • One donor can save and enhance more than 80 lives through organ and tissue donation.
  • In 2022-2023, 842 organ transplants were performed in Ontario. Together, Ontario hospitals supported 320 organ donors and 1,786 tissue donors.
  • Thousands of Ontarians are currently waiting for a life-saving organ or life-enhancing tissue transplant.
  • Every three days, one person dies while waiting for an organ donation.
  • Only 35 per cent of eligible Ontarians are currently registered to become organ and tissue donors when they pass.

Register to donate and speak with your family about your wishes. Visit beadonor.ca to find out more.

For more information, please contact:
Ontario Health
mediainquiries@ontariohealth.ca

Last Updated: November 22, 2023