Blanche River Health (BRH) was recognized by Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2023/24.

BRH was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award – Provincial Routine Notification Rate for achieving close to 100% routine notification rate throughout 2023/24. Routine notification rate is the percentage at which hospitals notify Ontario Health (TGLN) when a patient has died and there may be potential for organ and/or tissue donation.

"We're honored to receive this award. One donor can save up to eight lives and improve 75 others through tissue donation. With 1,400 Ontarians waiting for transplants, we urge everyone to talk to their families and visit BeADonor.ca to register. Every decision makes a difference," said Samantha Saudino, BRH’s Interim Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer.

BRH is one of 9 hospitals across the province to be awarded a 2023/24 Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) Outstanding Achievement Award – Provincial Routine Notification Rate.

“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, Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario Health. “Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network) works with BRH 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.”

On average, 1,400 people in Ontario are waiting for a lifesaving organ and thousands more are in need of a transformative tissue transplant. Every three days someone dies while they wait for their gift of life.

For more information on organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Ontario, or to learn more about the Ontario Health (TGLN) Hospital Achievement Awards, please contact mediainquiries@ontariohealth.ca.

About Blanche River Health

Blanche River Health (BRH) is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you.

BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel.

Please direct media inquiries to: Communications and Public Relations
1-866-274-7774 ext. 2144 | communications@blancheriverhealth.ca

Pictured

Left to right: Jorge VanSlyke President and Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin Matias RPN, Jennifer Fordyce RPN, Julie Studholme RN, Fi Denton Ward Clerk, and Samantha Saudino Interim Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer.