SAH Awarded for Championing Organ and Tissue Donation

October 21, 2021 – Sault Area Hospital (SAH) was recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2020/21.

SAH was presented with the Provincial Conversion Rate Award for meeting or exceeding the target conversion rate of 63 percent set by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) by reaching 70 percent. 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. This is SAH’s third year receiving this award. SAH is one of 23 hospitals to receive this award.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition,” says Mindy Lindstedt, Director of Clinical Programs at SAH. “While our team at SAH does this challenging work – our patients and their loved ones are also deserving of recognition and thanks as, without their support, this work would not be possible.”

Additionally, SAH received the Eligible Approach Rate Award for meeting or exceeding the eligible approach rate target of 90% set by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network). This award recognizes hospitals for demonstrating leading practices by facilitating a donation discussion with eligible patients/families of patients at the end of life.  SAH is one of 22 hospitals to receive this award.

“SAH has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation in Ontario, and this award is a reflection of that important work,” says 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 life-saving organ transplant, and every three days, someone will die waiting. Over 90% of Ontarians support donation, yet only 35% 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.

SAH exceeds the province with a registration rate of 48%, ranking 73 out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.

For more information about SAH, visit www.sah.on.ca

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