May 09, 2022
Though Alta.’s donation rate increased by 28% from 2011, hundreds of Albertans are waiting for transplants. The provincial government says through the $2-million Specialist in End-of-Life Care, Neuroprognostication and Donation (SEND) program, 22 specialist physicians are coordinating organ donation and transplantation opportunities. The specialist physicians are available 24/7 to improve identification of potential donors and to support families considering consent. Prior to the SEND program, northern and southern Alta. each had a medical director who also functioned as donation specialist physicians. However, there were no dedicated donation physician positions for individual hospitals and ICUs.