MONTRÉAL, April 16,
2024 /CNW/ - Héma-Québec is proud to announce a new
partnership with CIUSSS de l'Estrie–CHUS, CIUSSS de la
Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec and CHU de Québec–Université
Laval that will provide the
institutions with a local point person specially dedicated to human
tissue donation. The goal of the partnership is to optimize the
process of identifying and referring human tissue donors, which
will shorten death-to-donation times, increase potential donor
referrals to Héma–Québec and improve tissue donation supply and
quality.
The point person assigned to each institution will play a key
role, first in monitoring deaths to assess the eligibility of
potential donors, and then helping the institution refer donors to
Héma–Québec. The point person can then speak with the families of
the deceased and, when appropriate, coordinate the process and
collect the donation on site.
"As the organization responsible for collecting, preparing and
distributing donations of human tissue for transplant in the
province of Québec, Héma-Québec would like to help hospitals
identify opportunities for human tissue donation to address key
donation needs," says Etienne
Fissette, Director of Human Tissue Operations at
Héma-Québec.
- There are over 78,000 deaths in Québec each year.
- An estimated 40%–50% of these people could have been potential
human tissue donors.
- Just 5,780 potential tissue donors were referred to Héma-Québec
in 2023–2024, resulting in 989 actual donors.
- That means fewer than one potential donor in five was referred
to Héma–Québec.
There is a large and growing need for human tissue. The idea
behind this partnership is that participating hospitals will be
able to refer more potential donors, increasing donation
opportunities.
In 2023–2024, CIUSSS de l'Estrie–CHUS, CIUSSS de la
Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec and CHU de Québec–Université
Laval referred
1,058 potential tissue donors to Héma-Québec. Referrals from
these three establishments represented nearly 20% of all referrals
made to Héma-Québec, which goes to show how much these hospitals
contribute to our mission and why we must continue our efforts to
improve potential tissue donor identification and increase
referrals from these hospitals.
"By having a point person dedicated to human tissue donation in
each of these hospitals, we can identify and refer more potential
donors to Héma–Québec," says Gilles Beaupré, head of Héma-Québec's
human tissue donation program. "We value each and every
referral."
With National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (April
21–27, 2024) fast approaching, it's worth noting that human tissue
donation from a single Quebecer can make a difference in the lives
of over 20 people. It's an easy way to immensely improve the lives
of recipients. To give your consent, all you have to do is sign the
sticker on the back of your health insurance card or sign up with
one of the official registries at the Régie de l'assurance maladie
du Québec or the Chambre des notaires. After signing your card, let
your loved ones know about your decision to make sure it is
respected.
About the Héma-Québec Human
Tissue Bank
The Héma-Québec Human Tissue Bank is the largest human tissue
bank in Canada, in both variety
and volume of transplants. The most commonly transplanted tissues
include bones, heart valves, tendons, corneas and skin. Starting in
fall 2024, under the new mandate granted by the Ministère de
la Santé et des Services sociaux, Héma–Québec will become
responsible for ensuring the supply of all human tissue products
used in Québec hospitals. To learn more about human tissue
donation, visit the Human Tissue Bank &
Donations section of the Héma-Québec website.
About Héma-Québec
Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently meet the Québec
population's needs for blood and other high-quality biological
products of human origin. Héma-Québec has over 1,600 employees,
more than 200,000 donors of blood, stem cells, mother's milk and
human tissues, as well as thousands of blood drive volunteers.
Every year, Héma-Québec delivers nearly 800,000 biological products
of human origin to Québec's hospitals in order to meet patients'
needs.
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Human Tissue Donation: A Legacy of Life
INFORMATION
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Héma-Québec Human Tissue Bank & Donations
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