Local hospital awarded for organ donation efforts

L-R: Rosemary Frketich, Cathy Ritter (Ontario Health), Sarah Peloso and Denise Weir as Collingwood General and Marine Hospital gets recognized with Ontario Hospital Achievement Award (Source: CGMH/Supplied)

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) won a provincial award to recognize its outstanding efforts of integrating organ and tissue donation into quality, end-of-life care in 2023-24.

CGMH was presented with a Hospital Achievement Award by Ontario Health after previously being recognized with a Pronvincial Conversion Rate Award. Provincial conversion rate translates to the percentage of patients who were potential organ donors that became actual organ donors.

CGMH was among the 29 hospitals across the province who were recognized with a Provincial Conversion Rate Award for reaching or exceeding Ontario Health’s conversion rate target of 63 per cent.

“Every organ and tissue donation is a gift of life, a chance for hope and healing,” said Rosemary Frketich, CGMH vice president of patient services and CNE, in a media release. “As we celebrate our hospital receiving the Provincial Conversion Rate Award, we honor the selflessness of donors and their families, whose generosity transforms lives and strengthens our community.”

CGMH is one of 49 hospitals across the province to be recognized with a 2023-24 Ontario Health Hospital Achievement Award.

“The success of organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Ontario relies on the dedication of our hospital partners who work tirelessly to ensure that Ontarians have the opportunity to help others through the gift of life,” said Rebecca Cooper, vice president of the Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) of Ontario Health. “Ontario Health TGLN works with Collingwood General and Marine Hospital to ensure that the wishes of potential donors are realized. The Hospital Achievement Awards recognize this crucial work and the profound impact it can have on those waiting for an organ or tissue donation.”

According to Ontario Health, 1,400 people in Ontario are waiting for a lifesaving organ and thousands more are in need of a transformative tissue transplant. Ontario Health also states that one organ donor can save eight lives and enhance up to 75 more through tissue donation.