Marking its 15th year, frontline staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre pursued grants to support the ‘little things’ that can profoundly make a significant difference to patient care. All the ideas come directly from the staff and are realized through the Family CARE Grant, bringing their ideas to life.

This year, thanks to funding provided by donors to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, including a $15,000 contribution from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Volunteer Association, an impressive $123,417.60 was allocated to fund 66 Family CARE (Care Advancements Recommended by Employees) Grants – a significant 65% increase in funding from the previous year, allowing us to do more faster for better local healthcare now.

“The continued increase in grant submissions each year is a testament to the deep appreciation our frontline staff attribute to the Family CARE Grant program,” says Barry Streib, Director of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation and Chair of the selection committee. “We’re thrilled to be funding 66 impactful projects, each playing a vital role in enhancing patient care. It’s often the smallest gestures that yield the greatest results, and I applaud our staff for their invaluable contributions.”

Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, thanked employees for submitting ideas and funding applications to enhance patients’ and their families’ experiences. “The Family CARE Grants allow us to support our physicians, staff, and volunteers to better respond and fulfill the needs and values of patients and their families and put them at the centre of everything we do. This work demonstrates our Hospital community’s commitment to continuously improve our care and brings us closer to our vision of Exceptional care for every patient, every time.” 

The 2023-2024 Family CARE grants will fund the purchase of equipment that will benefit patients across the Health Sciences Centre. Some of the items making a difference this year include:

• Ten Zaky Hug positioning aids for NICU infants, replicating the comforting touch of a parent’s hand. Parents can also transfer their unique scent onto the Zaky Hug, offering soothing comfort to infants during moments of separation.
• Twenty-five Joey Band Pro adjustable wraps for NICU parents designed to give an added level of safety when facilitating skin-to-skin contact after birth. Particularly beneficial for c-section deliveries, providing reassurance for both parents and staff, ensuring infants remain secure.
• Code OB (Obstetrical Emergency) backpack for Labour and Delivery stocked with essential medical supplies that can easily be grabbed and taken right to the location of the code, ensuring patients receive timely care, ultimately leading to better and safer patient outcomes.
• TwoVenoscope II Vein Finder Transilluminators for two medical inpatient units which will allow staff to easily locate hard to find veins, therefore decreasing the number of IV attempts. 
• Care Communication Cards each representing 10 different languages for healthcare providers in all units and clinical areas. These cards will assist non-English speaking or non-verbal patients to better communicate basic needs or pain levels to their healthcare provider by pointing to the pictograph on the card represented in their language and in English.
• Four Backless Quarter Benches for the Spirit Gardens placed in two circle formations to allow Indigenous patients to sit with their care team, families and friends in a more culturally safe way. The significance of the circle is sacred and a key symbol in Indigenous spirituality, family structure, gatherings of people, meetings, songs and dances.

Families will also have peace of mind knowing that their loved ones in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit have additional supports and comfort with the purchase of sensory items like stress balls, fidget spinners, stuffed animals and Rubik’s cubes. “Giving patients something to do in a very restricted environment, especially when they are not at their best, helps distract them from their worries,” says Donna Ross, Therapeutic Recreationist, Adult Mental Health. Not only do these items serve as distractions but they help patients stay calm when stressors can be particularly high during their admission.

These Family CARE Grant items are just some of the examples of how ‘the little things’ can help enhance better patient care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Explore the full list of 2023-2024 grants here: healthsciencesfoundation.ca/familycare.