Bluewater Health has been recognized for a fourth year for its "outstanding" organ and tissue donation efforts.
Ontario Health's Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN] has presented the hospital network with the Provincial Conversion Rate Award for reaching a conversion rate of 100 percent -- which exceeds the target of 63 percent set by TGLN -- at its Sarnia and Petrolia sites.
Intensivist and Medical Director of Intensive Care, and Hospital Donation Physician, Dr. Glenna Cuccarolo, said local families like Ella Crossett's have experienced the miracle of organ donations.
"We're acknowledging an example of a family that, despite their great loss, was able to give the gift of life to other families," said Cuccarolo.
“We decided to donate Ella’s organs,” said her mother, Kristin Luckins. “Knowing that our decision could prevent other families from having to say goodbye to their child – and giving them another chance at life – helped me heal.”
Bluewater Health was also presented with the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award for exceeding the provincial eligible approach rate target of 90 percent set by TGLN, achieving 100 percent in 2021/2022.
Dr. Cuccarolo said the awards reflect the hospital's commitment to implement leading donation practices and integrate donation as part of quality end-of-life care.
"The Trillium Gift of Life program has dedicated individuals who will speak with families after a decision has been made because of the tragedy that has occurred," said Cuccarolo. "The physicians involved will connect with the family, and the TGLN team will connect with the family, to have that very fragile discussion to be able to help them to accept what's happening to give them the opportunity to be able to donate."
Residents are encouraged to register their consent to donate at BeADonor.ca.
"When an individual declares their consent, and they are a registered donor, it really facilitates that discussion at end-of-life and really helps the family to know the person's wishes in advance, rather than trying to guess for them."
According to the hospital, one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 75 more through the gift of tissue.
When asked how many individuals donated organs or tissue last year, and how many recipients there were, Bluewater Health said, "we don’t report that number locally for patient confidentiality and privacy reasons."