Oshawa-based Lakeridge Health earns trio of provincial awards for organ transplant surgeries

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Published February 2, 2023 at 11:12 am

Lakeridge Health surgeons performed 16 organ transplants from four donors in 2022, earning the health care organization three provincial awards from Ontario’s organ and tissue agency.

“These awards speak to Lakeridge Health’s commitment to organ and tissue donation awareness across the organization,” says Dr. Randy Wax, Chief of Staff, Lakeridge Health. “Our team’s efforts have maximized opportunities for families to create a positive impact through donation during tragic moments. We thank and honour the individuals and families of Durham Region who made the choice to donate and save lives.”

The Trillium Gift of Life Network recognized the Oshawa-based hospital group with the awards as part of their Hospital Achievement Awards.

The organ transplants, as well as 99 tissue donors, earned the hospital a Provincial Conversion Rate Award for reaching a conversion rate of 67 per cent, which exceeds the target of 63 per cent set by the network, as well as an Award of Excellence for meeting or exceeding those targets for four or more consecutive years – demonstrating an “outstanding commitment” to the implementation of donation leading practices. This is Lakeridge Health’s sixth year receiving this award.

The awards also emphasized the importance of organ donations in saving lives.

“We are so grateful for the incredible efforts of the Lakeridge Health team that helps to make organ and tissue donation possible,” said Lakeridge Health President and CEO Cynthia Davis. “Working alongside our partners, we are committed to improving organ donation awareness and enhancing the culture of donation one conversation at a time.”

The organization also received the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award. This award recognizes hospitals for demonstrating leading practices in sparking discussions with eligible patients and their families at end of life about organ donations and achieving a 96 per cent eligible approach rate.

“The success of organ and tissue donation in Ontario relies on the hard work and dedication of our health-care partners,” said Rebecca Cooper, Vice President, Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario Health. “Lakeridge Health has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation and these awards are a reflection of their commitment to implementing leading donation practices, integrating donation as part of quality end-of-life care, and continuously working to save lives through organ and tissue donation.”

Every Ontarian has the opportunity to demonstrate their support for this life-saving work by registering their consent to organ and tissue donation at BeADonor.ca.

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