Blanche River Health (BRH) clinicians are being recognized for the second year in a row for their contributions to help increase organ and tissue donations in Ontario. 

Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]) has presented BRH with its second Outstanding Achievement Award, announced Jorge VanSlyke, President and CEO of BRH.  

“More than 1,300 Ontarians are on the wait list for a life-saving organ transplant, so it’s crucial that hospitals do everything they can to help respond to this vital need,” said VanSlyke.  “There are many reasons to be proud of the clinical staff who care for us, and today I salute them for their dedication to organ and tissue donation.” 

BRH achieved a 91.7 per cent routine notification rate throughout 2022/2023, for when clinical staff notified Ontario Health (TGLN) when a patient died and there may have been potential for organ and tissue donation.

High notification rates are essential to the success of the mandate of Ontario Health (TGLN) to save and enhance more lives through the gift or organ and tissue donation.  In 2022/2023, Ontario contributed to 842 essential organ transplants thanks to 320 organ donors and 1,786 tissue donors. 

“Blanche River Health has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation in Ontario and we are proud to partner with their exemplary team of healthcare professionals throughout the year to continue this vital work,” said Rebecca Cooper, Vice President, Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario Health.

One organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives and enhance as many as 75 more. 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.

Blanche River Health 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.

Photo caption: 

Blanche River Health clinicians have won their second Outstanding Achievement Award from Trillium Gift of Life Network. Top (left to right) Darlene Hutchinson, RN, Sherri Ferguson, RN, Clinical Educator, Dr. Jessica Moore. Bottom (left to right) Martha Cope, Vice-President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Chanda Taillon, RN, Selena Wilson, RN.