February 13, 2023
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has been recognized by the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) for exceeding Ontario Health’s organ and tissue conversion target.
“This award is a testament to our teamwork and dedication,” says Ines De Campos, Director of Critical Care and Trauma at LHSC. “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we were still able to keep our numbers up, ensuring our patients had access to lifesaving transplants.”
The Provincial Conversion Rate Award, which measures the number of potential organ donors against the number of actual donors, is given to hospitals that surpass 63 per cent. LHSC reached 67 per cent in the 2021/22 fiscal year. During this period, there were 81 lives saved, 91 organs transplanted and 80 people who donated tissue.
“Organ donation is a complex process. There are many steps from donor to recipient that require careful planning and collaboration,” explains De Campos. For example, care must be taken to ensure the organ is a good match for the intended recipient and that it's still viable by the time it reaches the operating room.
“Because each donor has the potential to save eight other lives, we work closely with the TGLN team to make sure everything is seamless,” De Campos says. “We want to get patients off the waitlist and matched to suitable organs as soon as one’s available."
Joseph Gajasan, Interim Director of Intensive Care and Transplant, acknowledges how challenging the process can be for all involved in making transplantation a reality.
“This conversion rate is only possible because of our committed teams. The work is difficult, but they show up every day and perform because they know how much it means to their patients and families. It really speaks volumes to their professionalism and dedication.”
The Multi-Organ Transplant Program at University Hospital is one of Canada’s leading transplant programs. LHSC cares for donors and recipients who are recovering from heart, kidney, kidney-pancreas, liver and multi-organ transplantation.
The London region has one of the highest organ donation rates in Canada, yet at any given time, up to 1,500 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in Ontario alone. Every three days, one of them dies waiting. To find out how you can become an organ donor, visit BeADonor.ca.