For the month of October, our IT/IS team wants to highlight Cyber Security Awareness. The campaign aims to support staff with tools and knowledge on how to protect their digital assets, personal and work information, and online privacy.We’ll be posting information on cyber security every week along with a trivia question. Participants have a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift Card.
What is a Smart Home?
A smart home uses internet-connected devices to control things like:
Lights
Thermostats
Door locks
Security cameras
Voice assistants
These devices can make our homes more comfortable and efficient, but they can also be targets for hackers if not properly secured.
Why Security Matters
Imagine if someone could:
Turn your lights on and off without your permission
Change your home’s temperature
Unlock your doors
Watch your security camera feeds
This is why it’s crucial to protect your smart home devices.
Here are some easy steps to secure your smart home:
Use strong passwords: Don’t use the default passwords that come with your devices.
Update regularly: Make sure your devices have the latest software updates.
Turn off unused features: If you don’t use a feature on a device, turn it off. This reduces the ways a hacker could get in.
Smart homes can be great, but it’s important to think about security. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the benefits of a smart home while keeping your family and information safe.
Remember, if a device connects to the internet, it needs to be protected!
This year, Waste Reduction Week in Canada takes place from October 21-27. It is an opportunity to celebrate our environmental efforts and achievements to date, and encourage new ideas and solutions to reduce our waste. Reducing the amount of waste you create is an easy way that you can help make a difference.
TBRHSC’s Green Team is committed to reducing our environmental footprint and supporting these efforts through our extensive recycling programs onsite which includes:
All Plastics #1 – #7
Cardboard & Paper
Cans & Scrap Metal
Batteries
Electronic Waste
We continue to setup ‘Green Suites’ within select departments, for those areas looking to champion their department’s recycling initiatives. These ‘Green Suites’ are a centralized area for managing and sorting recycle materials to minimize the amount of waste going to landfill.
Nutrition & Food Services
Cutlery and food containers in Retail are certified legislation compliant.
Patient cutlery has also gone to sustainable cutlery.
Lean Path – Program that tracks food waste and allows us to manage for reduction.
ORCA- Food Digestive System introduced May, 2023 to prevent food waste from going into landfill. Since its inception, we have diverted 29,600 lbs of food waste.
Reusable merchandise is also available in Flavours Café.
We are also working on introducing two new recycling programs onsite:
PPE Recycling
Includes recycling of uncontaminated masks/gloves/gowns/booties/etc.
The uncontaminated PPE is shipped to ‘LifeCycle Revive’ in Southern Ontario.
The contents are sterilized and processed into pellets, which are then in turn used to create recycling bins, bed pans, etc.
Keurig K-Cup Recycling
Intended for areas with kitchenettes, where Keurig coffee brewing equipment is in use.
The pods are collected then sent to EMTERRA for processing.
The pod components are separated – grounds become compost & the plastic is recycled.
Over the last year we have introduced reusable sharps containers and biodegradable nitrile gloves.
Our reusable sharps containers reduce the amount of plastic going into our landfills. Our old disposable sharps containers saw in excess of 12,500 containers going into our landfill.
With over 11 million gloves used at TBRHSC per year, our new biodegradable gloves will achieve 90% biodegradability in 490 days as opposed to the original nitrile glove that took close to 200 years.
Photo (from L-R): Jason Walt RRT, Heidi Neuman (RT student), and Drew Edgar RRT
Our Hospital is joining others across the country by celebrating Respiratory Therapy Week from October 20-26.
Respiratory therapists (RTs) are highly-skilled health care professionals. They have specialized medical expertise and use their knowledge and skills to provide safe, high-quality care. If you have medical problems that may be caused by cardiorespiratory or respiratory-related issues, RTs are the experts who will work with you to diagnose, treat and manage your condition.
Within our Hospital there are always RTs working hard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across all patient populations. RTs are a vital part of the front-line care team in many areas including the intensive care unit, the emergency department, operating rooms, NICU, outpatient clinics and home care. RTs perform a variety of vital roles throughout our Hospital. They are called for all high-risk deliveries including C-sections, traumas, conscious sedations, cardioversions, puffer administration and education, arterial blood gases, insertion of arterial catheters, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, (like CPAPs or BiPAPs), high flow oxygen therapy, and so much more.
Leadership Roles for RTs
Photo (from L-R): Jennifer Gadioma, Interprofessional Educator; Bruno Tassone, Critical Care and Respiratory Services Coordinator (not pictured – Darolyn Hryciw, RRT Charge)
Respiratory therapists use their skills and knowledge to take on various leadership roles throughout our Hospital. Darolyn Hryciw is the RRT Charge and her role consists of managing day-to-day operations, scheduling, and equipment and supplies management. Bruno Tassone is the Critical Care and Respiratory Services Coordinator. He is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Regional Critical Care Response (RCCR) as well as the Medical Emergency Team. Jennifer Gadioma is an Interprofessional Educator. Within her role, she helps advance the practice of health care professionals’ organization wide by providing hospital-wide education. Shawn Jacobson is the Education Lead and he organizes all the education and clinical placements for the Respiratory Therapy students from Canadore College. Aaron Giba is the Professional Practice Lead for the Respiratory Department, and provides leadership and guidance in everyday practice as well as policy development and implementation.
Operating Room
Photo (from L-R): Brittney Goral RRT; Samantha Nigro RRT and AA; Darolyn Hryciw RRT, AA and Charge RRT; Leanna Black RRT and AA.
The anesthesia assistant (AA) is an essential member of the Operating Room (OR) team. AAs are respiratory therapists who have an additional 18 months of training in advanced anesthesia skills in order to facilitate the administration of anesthetic services, both in an out of the OR. Within the OR, they assist with the setup and induction of anesthesia for more complex surgical cases. Their duties include advanced airway management, line insertion as well as assistance with epidural/spinal blocks, peripheral nerve blocks and difficult intubation protocols. AAs can prepare and administer a variety of anesthetic agents and manage stable patients under anesthesia while the anesthetist performs other duties within the OR. They also maintain and troubleshoot all anesthesia equipment and are often called upon to assist with anesthetic emergencies. They prepare the OR for malignant hyperthermia cases and are well-versed in the management of this rare but life-threatening emergency. Outside of the OR, AAs set up and assist with sedation cases in diagnostic imaging that require advanced monitoring and generally facilitate any off-service anesthetic duty. The introduction of AAs have allowed anesthesia services to expand at a time when anesthesia resources are very limited.
Outpatient Clinics, Stress lab, Pulmonary Function Testing Lab
Photo (from L-R): Loriana Manion, RRT – Stress Lab and Dennis Poulin, RRT – PFT lab
Respiratory therapists also provide care in outpatient clinics and our diagnostic area. They conduct tests to measure lung function and teaching people to manage asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder among other cardiac and lung functions.
Please join us in thanking the TBRHSC RRT team for their incredible dedication to patient-centred care.
Photo Caption: Pictured (L-R) Romy Marlo, Founder of Crush Coffee Co., 2024 Luncheon of Hope Speaker Jennifer Miller and Greysen Thompson, co-owner of George’s Market with one of their Breastie Bags.
Breastie Bags was launched in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a goal that reaches far beyond selling gift bags. It aims to make a direct impact on the life of one woman in Thunder Bay who is financially burdened by her breast cancer diagnosis, offering her a lifeline during a time of uncertainty.
The concept of the Breastie Bag, created by Romy Marlo, Founder of Crush Coffee Co., and Graysen Thompson, co-owner of George’s Market, is both simple yet impactful. The fundraiser offers beautifully curated gift bags, each containing a bag of Crush Coffee, a signature Crush Coffee mug, and a fresh bouquet of flowers.
“These items are more than just products,” says Thompson. “They represent care, comfort, femininity, and solidarity. The coffee symbolizes daily strength, the mug serves as a comforting touchpoint, and the beautiful flowers bring a breath of beauty and hope during difficult times.”
With every purchase of a Breastie Bag, $10 will be donated to one woman in Thunder Bay struggling financially due to breast cancer. This commitment reflects a genuine effort to truly make a difference. Breast cancer often brings unexpected financial burdens, including medical bills, treatments, and loss of income, creating an overwhelming situation for patients and their families. For many women, this financial strain becomes another battle on top of the emotional and physical toll of cancer.
Breastie Bags seeks to lighten that load, offering real, tangible help to women in need, providing a safety net for a woman who may find herself needing extra financial support.
“What sets Breastie Bags apart from other fundraisers is our dedication to empowering women at every level of the process,” says Marlo. “From product creation to the recipient of the donations, women are central to this initiative. By choosing to support Breastie Bags, you’re not just contributing to breast cancer survivors; you’re investing in a business ecosystem that prioritizes female empowerment.”
This broader mission of empowerment extends beyond financial aid. Breastie Bags represent the idea that women can come together to lift each other up in times of need. In a world where breast cancer impacts so many lives, initiatives like Breastie Bags remind us that no one has to fight alone. Giving a Breastie Bag is an act of love, compassion, and solidarity—a way of saying, “I see you,” to both the recipient and the woman benefiting from the donation.
Both Romy and Graysen have been deeply affected by breast cancer’s impact on their friends and family. The launch of Breastie Bags is a testament to their desire to turn grief into action, channeling the pain of losing a loved one or watching a loved one struggle into a force for good.
Breastie Bags will be available for purchase at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre onThursday, October 24 from 8am – 4pm in the main foyer.
Nominate a woman to be a Breastie Bag recipient by emailing: info@crushcoffeeco.com and tell us why she is the perfect fit! Nominations close October 25. Funds will be presented on Monday, November 11 at the Breastie Social, Sleeping Giant Brewing Company from 7-9pm. Tickets available at www.sleepinggiantbrewing.ca.
We’re celebrating 20 years of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). Throughout the year, we’ll be taking a trip down memory lane to revisit some of our most significant milestones.
Thank you to our dedicated staff, donors to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation community members and partners in health who have played a vital role in building exceptional healthcare for patients and families in Northwestern Ontario.
This week, we’re remembering 📅 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵 (📸)
1) TBRHSC celebrated improved medical education with the grand opening of the new Ibn Sina Simulation Lab.
2) TBRHSC became one of ten sites in Ontario, and 24 sites across Canada to offer enhanced access to Endovascular Treatment (EVT), a procedure that drastically improves outcomes for stroke patients.
3) The Our Hearts At Home Cardiovascular Campaign launched.
Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control
Please be advised that the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared over on the Forensics unit at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center as of Wednesday October 16, 2024. All restrictions have been lifted. Please share this information with the appropriate staff.
For more information, contact: Infection Prevention and Control Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre ext. 6094
Shared on behalf of Adam Vinet, Vice President, Patient Experience & Chief Nursing Executive and Regional Vice President, Regional Cancer Care
I am excited to share that we are advancing to the next phase of our scheduling system upgrade with the implementation of Andgo Smartcall and Shift Pre-booking for all areas scheduled by the Staffing Office.
What This Means:
Enhanced Integration: Andgo will connect with our new UKG Pro Workforce Management software, streamlining shift filling and schedule planning through automation.
Upcoming Changes: Employees scheduled by the Staffing Office at TBRHSC will soon use Andgo to update their notification preference and bid on available shifts.
In the coming weeks, we will provide information sessions to help you become familiar with Andgo. Please keep an eye out for more details on these sessions. They will ensure you have the knowledge and skills needed to navigate Andgo with ease.
If you have any questions or need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to your supervisor, visit the Andgo Resource Page, or contact a member of the Andgo Implementation Team. Thank you for your continued support as we make this transition.
Andgo Implementation Team:
• Dawna Maria Perry – Co-Project Sponsor • Rita Grenier Buchan – Project Lead • Cora Rouillard – Integration Subject Matter Expert • Laura Macgowan – HR Subject Matter Expert • Dino Armenti – Resource • Michael Iorianni – Resource – Payroll • Angela Kutok – PI Consultant
TBRHSC’s Employee and Family Assistance Program is now offering myFSEAP mobile.
FSEAP recognizes that many organizations have employees and family members who are mobile and have launched myFSEAP mobile. This is a FREE mobile application and is available for iPhone and Android devices.
With myFSEAP mobile you can:
Contact the EFAP (by phone or by submitting an online service request) directly from the app with the touch of a button.
Login to view information specific to your benefit.
Review EFAP services details and Frequently Asked Questions.
Access FSEAP Solutions health and wellness newsletters.
Conveniently access to online self-help resources and tools.
Search and scroll through a library of health and wellness articles on topics such as health & well-being, family & relationships, life, work, and more.
See the poster below to learn how to download the app:
Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control
A suspected outbreak (suspected outbreak number: 2262-2024-00112) of COVID has been declared on 1A medical as of October 15, 2024. All high-risk contacts have been isolated and heightened surveillance is in place.
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. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak will require isolation with appropriate additional precautions.
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.
