Stratford General Hospital was recognized yesterday by the Trillium Gift of Life Network for its outstanding work in organ and tissue donation.
Stratford has received several awards for its success in converting potential donors into donors. The provincial average is 58 per cent, the rate at Stratford is 67. Pathologist and co-chair of Stratford's organ and tissue donation committee, Doctor Tyler Rouse, says teamwork is the key to their success. He says being in a smaller community hospital has its advantages.
"We really have the opportunity to get to know one another and count on one another and just working seamlessly in what is a fairly new thing for most hospitals of our size," said Rouse. "it's been amazing to see everybody pulling together and really achieving some wonderful things.”
He adds it's also a matter of raising awareness of the need and of the impact a donor can have on other people and families.
Registering as a donor takes just a few minutes and requires your health card. It can even be done online.
Rouse recommends having a conversation about being a donor with their families, saying its easier to have the talk before something happens.
Stratford is the only Alliance hospital that does transplants but that's changing. The other three area hospitals will be involved in tissue transplants by next year.
