THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is being recognized for its contributions to Ontario's organ and tissue donation program.
The Trillium Gift of Health Network has presented the hospital with an achievement award for its commitment to the program.
It's an award that goes to hospitals that exceed the TGHN's target "conversion rate" of 63 per cent.
The conversion rate is the percentage of potential organ donors (patients deemed medically suitable for donation upon passing) in a hospital who went on to become actual donors.
TBRHSC's rate over the past year was 67 per cent.
Of the 380 organ donors across the province in 2023/2024, the Thunder Bay hospital supported eight donors, which led to 31 organs donated for transplant to 28 individuals.
TBRHSC vice-president Adam Vinet congratulated the hospital employees who participate in the program.
"This could not be possible without the care, compassion and dedication of our frontline staff. They put in the time and effort to have the difficult conversations with patients and families. The selfless decision of the patients and their families is what saves lives, and that is just remarkable," he said.
This is the fourth time the hospital has received the TGHN award.
Northern Ontario communities are among the leaders in the province when it comes to the number of organ donor registrants per capita.
In Thunder Bay specifically, 52 per cent of the eligible population has registered as organ donors, putting the city in 46th spot among 170 communities in terms of the participation rate.
