Hello, Boozhoo, Bonjour.

I want to close out August with a fuller update on where things stand across the organization.

First, a word about the month itself because August asked a lot of you. What I want you to know is that when we get challenged, the response I see from our teams and staff is steady and professional. I notice it, the leadership team notices it, and your work and care is impressive and not taken for granted.

Work on our next strategic plan is now underway. Engagement is happening inside and outside the organization and if you have seen the QR codes posted around the building that is your invitation to complete the confidential survey. It takes only a few minutes and the answers will help shape the next five years of this organization. Huddles with staff are in progress, along with sessions involving our leaders, the Board, physicians, community partners, and patient family advisors. As previously mentioned, the questions framing this plan are simple. What should we keep doing, what should we start doing, and what should we stop doing? The answers are now arriving, and I want yours in the mix. We expect Board approval of the new plan by December and a launch in early 2027. Click here for the survey.

The health system stabilization work I wrote about in June continues with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health. Our current focus is on conservable bed days, with action plans targeted for September, and we are reviewing sick time and overtime for opportunities to improve. Sadly, overtime is an area where we do not benchmark well against our peers and we need to do better. I know how a line like that can read from the front line, so let me be clear about the intent. High overtime usually says more about how we schedule and staff than about the people working the hours. The point of this review is to fix what drives the hours, not to blame the people working them. If you are aware of what increases overtime or sick time in your area, tell your manager or email me. The Ministry expects gains in efficiency from every hospital in this work and our commitment has not changed since June. We will find those gains without compromising quality or access to care.

Construction continues on nearly every corner of the Hospital campus. The Cardiovascular Surgery Program sits at 38 per cent completion and remains on schedule, and the renovated ECG and phlebotomy areas have been handed over for clinical use. The new Emergency Department addition is complete, including the reception, registration and security areas, and the overall triage project is at 65 per cent with completion expected this winter. Demolition has started on Level 3 for the new central scope reprocessing space. Roof replacement is finished over 3C, 2C short stay and the ED perimeter, with the ambulance bay and OR administration areas to follow soon. The millwork for our Expanse workstations is nearly complete in the pods and has started in the ICU. On Expanse itself, the build is progressing well and we expect to set a go-live date later this fall as we review the remaining milestones. Once that date is set, details on training and preparation will follow.

Finally, I want to acknowledge something everyone driving to work has noticed. Traffic within the vicinity has been difficult, with our construction activity compounded by City of Thunder Bay road work in the surrounding area. We continue to assess the impacts and project timelines to reduce the congestion where able. Thank you for your patience.

I hope your September gets off to a great start, and you feel positive and refreshed for the months ahead.

As always, I welcome any comments or questions you may have. Please feel free to email directly at: Rhonda.Ellacott@tbh.net.