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: