Awareness to BD Blunt Needles — Risk of Coring

Shared on behalf of Quality and Risk Management 


Please be advised that we have been made aware of potential coring when puncturing a vial with the BD blunt needles. Coring involves a small piece of the rubber stopper detaching during needle insertion, which results in contamination or injection of rubber fragments into the vial. This also has the potential to be drawn into a syringe and administered to patients. Two cases of coring, resulting in no patient harm, have been identified internally and follow up with Health Canada and BD is planned. Please encourage staff and professional staff to: 

  • Monitor for coring when using BD blunt needle
    • If coring is observed, submit a report into the Incident Learning System as soon as possible to allow for timely investigation and follow up.
  • Use a new needle for every vial access to reduce risk of coring.

 Please share this information with your teams as appropriate. Updates will be communicated as available.

Quality and Risk Management, ext. 6019

Register for Perkolis to Save on Travel

Your next sun-filled getaway is calling! Perkopolis offers savings on resorts and vacation packages to the Caribbean, Mexico, and other beautiful destinations! Register or sign in to your Perkopolis account to browse exclusive offers from top resorts by visiting perkopolis.com.  

See the below poster for more information!

SP 2026: Update on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

strategic

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.

Family Day Powwow (February 17)

The City of Thunder Bay’s Indigenous Relations Office will be hosting their 3rd Annual Family Day Powwow on Monday, February 17, 2025. This event is open to everyone and will be held at the CLE grounds in the Coliseum Building. See below for an overview of the day’s agenda.

Indigenous Care Coordinator – Emergency Department

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.

COVID-19 Outbreak, 2B Inpatient Unit- DECLARED OVER

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.

COVID-19 Outbreak, Forensic Inpatient Unit – DECLARED OVER

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.  

>