Lakehead University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Research Services invites you to join us for Anishinaabe and Indigenous Ethical Guidelines in Community-Based Research (CBR) with Dr. Andrew Judge on Friday, January 24, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. (EST).
Event Date: Friday, January 24, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. (EST)
Event Location: Ingenuity Connections Theatre FB 2023 (CASES Building) and Via Zoom
Mkomose – Andrew Judge, PhD – is an Anishinaabe scholar, educator, and knowledge keeper who focuses on Anishinaabe and Indigenous knowledge systems, land-based education, and environmental stewardship. He is of Anishinaabe and Irish descent and has dedicated much of his nearly two decade long career to reviving traditional ecological knowledge and fostering deeper connections between people and the natural world.
As part of our commitment to keeping staff engaged and informed on the Strategic Plan 2026, Strategy and Performance is sharing updates in alignment with the identified priorities: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Patient Experience, Staff Experience and Research, Innovation, & Learning.
The January 22, Operational Updates and Strategic Planning meeting featured an update on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: EDI Physical Environment Review, Indigenous Recruitment and Education & EDI Experiences for Learning, and was presented by Dr. Miranda Lesperance, Vice President Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion.
Visit the Strategic Plan 2026 page on the Hospital’s corporate intranet, where these presentations, along with other resources can be found.
Shared on behalf of Paula Vangel, Manager, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion
I am pleased to announce that Alexi Desrosiers has accepted the Part Time – Evening – Weekend (3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.) – Indigenous Care Coordinator (ICC) position in the Emergency Department.
Alexi is a graduate of the Social Service Worker program at Confederation College with previous experience working as a Certified Health Care Aid. Alexi brings wealth of experience working with Indigenous Peoples through previous employment and placements at Morningstar Detox Centre, WNHAC, CMHA, and Kenora Chiefs Advisory. Alexi is a strong advocate and brings a profound understanding on how to navigate the health care system for Indigenous patients.
As the ICC, Alexi will report to the Manager, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity, and Inclusion, where she will work in collaboration with the other ICCs in TBRHSC Miskwaa Biidaaban-Indigenous Collaboration department and the Indigenous Patient Navigator in the Emergency Department to provide culturally safe care to improve health delivery and equity outcomes for Indigenous Peoples within the organization.
Alexi will begin working her shift from 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday on Friday February 14, 2025. She will be located in the Emergency Department Administrative area. She can be reached via email TBRHSC.IndigenousCareCoordinators@tbh.net or alexi.desrosiers@tbh.net and by phone at 807-684-6153.
Please join me in welcoming Alexi Desrosiers to our organization.
Over the next several months, we will be completing repairs to the terrazzo flooring in the Main Lobby and in the Cafeteria. Work will occur overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. but the work area will be closed off 24-hours/day to protect the area and equipment and to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors.
This Monday, January 27, we will be starting the repairs in the space in front of Volunteer Services. Please see the attached map (below). The work is expected to span the week.
This work area will impact access routes to:
the main doors to Adult Mental Health via Level 2 —> access should be via Elevator-01 (at the East Entrance)
the main door to Volunteer Services —> access will be via Office 2008 during daytime hours
access to the east doors to the Cancer Centre (at the north end of the main corridor) —> access should be via the Level 3 bridge from Health Records to Supportive Care
the Grand Staircase will be closed off between Level 1 and Level 2; they will remain accessible between Level 2 and Level 3
Support Services and Pharmacy – it’s suggested that staff utilize the first floor to travel to Elevator-01 then up to Level 2 to get to AMH
Code Response – alternate routes to AMH should be worked out in advance and communicated clearly to response teams
We will be providing updates via the Informed newsletter as construction continues throughout the Main Lobby and Cafeteria.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kristi Judge at kristi.judge@tbh.net or Darin Pretto at darin.pretto@tbh.net.
Please be advised that the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared over on 2B Inpatient Unit.
All restrictions have been lifted. Outbreak #2262-2025-00004
Please share this information with the appropriate staff. As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors.
The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.
For more information, contact: Infection Prevention and Control at 6094.
Lakehead University’s Thunderwolves Women’s Volleyball team will host their annual Think Pink Game this Saturday, January 25! This game is in support of the Northern Cancer Fund for breast cancer care.
These games have raised substantial funds over the years, all of which stay in our community to ensure exceptional breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Fans are encouraged to bring extra cash to participate in fun activities and pick up special merchandise to support this meaningful cause.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared over on the Forensic Inpatient Unit as of January 20, 2025. All restrictions are lifted. Outbreak # 2262-2025-00001
Please share this information with the appropriate staff.
The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.
For more information, contact: Infection Prevention and Control at extension 6094.
Over the past several years, we have seen an increasing number of non-English speaking citizens and visitors seeking care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. As English is not their first language, these patients and families often require the support of interpretation services. Providing culturally appropriate care is equivalent to safe care, and being able to communicate the needs of our patients and families effectively can help provide better care.
Recognizing this gap and enabled by a Family CARE Grant from the Foundation, Care Communication Cards were designed and printed in multiple languages (adapted from the Ojibwe “Basic Patient Needs” communication tool).
Care Communication Cards are laminated communication tools which display pictographs with corresponding words in English and an additional language, conveying basic patient needs or pain levels. If the healthcare provider is asking a question, using the Care Communication Card to point to a corresponding word, the patient can also use the card to help answer the question. These cards can also be used in conjunction with the bedside communication whiteboards. While a patient is staying at the Hospital, the Care Communication Card could be placed at the bedside or attached to the whiteboard for easy access.
Additionally, Care Communication Cards can be used both in the in-patient units and the out-patient areas as a quick, easily accessed communication tool. They are also useful for communicating with non-verbal patients. The card may be all that is required at the moment, but if further discussion is necessary, the cards can be used until interpretation services can be accessed. When no longer required for a particular patient, the cards can be easily cleaned and disinfected to be stored on the unit and re-used for a future patient.
For a language that is not represented, there is an English-only card with blank spaces for adding interpretation. If an Essential Care Partner wishes to translate the information to assist in the patient’s care, the completed card can later be scanned and added to the digital library. All current Care Communication Cards are also available on the iNtranet under Corporate Services – Interpretation Services.
Thank you to both the Patient Family Advisor Council and the clinical staff for your feedback and assistance in helping to co-design these resources, and thank you to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation for the Family CARE Grant that made these toolkits possible.
Over the next few weeks, Care Communication Card toolkits will be handed out to units throughout the Hospital. Keep an eye out for the Patient Safety Improvement Specialist visiting your area!
For more information or if you have questions, reach out to Terry Fodë, Patient Safety Improvement Specialist, at extension 6754 or terry.fode@tbh.net.
Terry Fodë, Patient Safety Improvement Specialist, Quality and Risk Management presents a mock-up of the Spanish-language Care Communication Card.
