Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Recognized for Achievement in Organ and Tissue Donation

by Marcello Bernardo October 6, 2023

TGLN Award — Members of TBRHSC's leadership team, along with staff and physicians from the Intensive Care Unit, Operating Room and TGLN (Ontario Health) gather in the Hospital's Garden of Life to accept the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award.

Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]) has presented Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) with an achievement award for its dedication to open communication about organ and tissue donation.

TBRHSC has been honoured with the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award, an award presented to hospitals who exceeded TGLN’s target of 90 per cent in having organ and tissue donation discussions with eligible patients and families. This is the first year TBRHSC has received this award, reaching an eligible approach rate of 97 percent.

“Our team approaches the conversation about organ and tissue donation with care and compassion. These are difficult discussions, and we want every patient and family to have the information they need and the opportunity to make a life-saving choice,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “This award underscores our ongoing dedication and commitment to the organ and tissue donation process.”

Ontario Health (TGLN)’s mission is to save and enhance more lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation in Ontario. In 2022/2023, out of 320 organ donors across the province, TBRHSC supported four, which led to 14 organs donated for transplant and saved 13 lives.

“Thirteen lives saved last year – this is why we do what we do, and why the collaboration between TBRHSC and TGLN is essential,” stated Kiley Perrier, Trillium Gift of Life Network’s Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinator at TBRHSC. “By registering your consent, you are making the caring and selfless decision to try and help save lives after your death through organ and tissue donation.”

Northern Ontario communities are among the leaders in the province in the number of registrants per capita. Thunder Bay has 53 per cent of its eligible population registered as organ donors, ranking the city in 38th provincially out of 170 communities.

There are more than 1,200 people in Ontario waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. For more information on organ and tissue donation in Ontario, or to register your consent for organ and tissue donation at www.BeADonor.ca. Remember to talk to your family about your wishes.