Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]) has once again recognized Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) with an achievement award for its commitment to organ and tissue donation.

TBRHSC has been presented with the Provincial Conversion Rate Award, which is given to hospitals who exceed TGLN’s target conversion rate of 63 percent. This is the fourth time TBRHSC has received this award, reaching a conversion rate of 67 percent. This year’s rate matches what TBRHSC achieved in two of the previous years it won the award – in 2016 and 2020.

The conversion rate is the percentage of potential organ donors (patients in a hospital setting that are deemed medically suitable for donation upon passing) who went on to become actual donors.

“I am so proud of the team here and their incredible work in this area,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “Organ donation is a complex process, and the conversion rate reflects how well Ontario Health (TGLN) and our Hospital work together to provide life-saving opportunities and enhance people’s lives.”

Ontario Health (TGLN)’s mission is to save and enhance more lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation in Ontario. In 2023/2024, out of 380 organ donors from across the province, TBRHSC supported eight donors, which led to 31 organs donated for transplant, saving 28 lives.

“Working together with our Provincial partners improves lives for many  — we will continue to support organ donation whenever possible,” stated Adam Vinet, Vice President, Patient Experience and Chief Nursing Executive and Regional Vice President, Regional Cancer Care. “This could not be possible without the care, compassion and dedication of our frontline staff. They put in the time and effort to have the difficult conversations with patients and families. The selfless decision of the patients and their families is what saves lives, and that is just remarkable.”

Northern Ontario communities are among the leaders in the province when it comes to the number of registrants per capita. Thunder Bay has 52 percent of its eligible population registered as organ donors, ranking the city in 46th spot provincially out of 170 communities. There are more than 1,200 people in Ontario waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. For more information on organ and tissue donation in Ontario, or to register your consent for organ and tissue donation, visit www.BeADonor.ca. Remember to talk to your family about your wishes.

The Substance Use and Addictions Project team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has collaborated with the Community Addictions Peer Support Association to host four training sessions over the last two days for Hospital leaders, physicians, and staff. This training, entitled ‘Stigma Ends with Me: The Foundations’, provided evidence-based training with valuable insights into the negative effects of stigma and the impacts to patients, families and healthcare providers. Participants were able to learn practical tools and strategies to eliminate stigma in the healthcare setting and everyday life.

Today, we observe the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIW), a day dedicated to raising awareness about the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2-spirit people in Canada.

This day serves as a solemn reminder of the ongoing violence and systemic injustices faced by Indigenous women and girls across the country. It is a time to advocate for change and urge governments and institutions to address the underlying causes of the MMIW crisis. It is critical to recognize that the issue of MMIW is not only a societal concern but also has significant implications for health care. Health care providers and institutions must strive to establish a culturally sensitive and respectful health care system that meets the needs of Indigenous peoples. 

For more information click here!

Fort William First Nation will host an event to commemorate the day, see below or click here for details.

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 📅 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 (📸)

1) Our Hospital earned high marks in the Accreditation Canada report.

2) TBRHSC launched a groundbreaking pilot project to improve opioid prescribing.

3) TBRHSC ranked among the top research hospitals in Canada.

4) TBRHSC raised Fort William First Nation’s flag to recognize the traditional lands that the Hospital is on.

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Visit www.tbrhsc.net/20years for more milestones.

All staff, professional staff, volunteers and students are invited to virtually attend a variety of webinars brought to you by the Healthy Hospital Working Group. Attend a live session or watch a recording by November 10, 2024, to be entered into a draw for a chance to win a prize.

For the full schedule of events please see below:

Shared on behalf of Noojmawing Sookatagaing Ontario Health Team

Report from Patricia Lang, Chair, Board of Directors

For me, the transition from summer to fall brings with it a feeling of excitement; the anticipation of getting back into a routine and days becoming busier as the weather cools down. I hope that Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers and members of the Board took time over the summer to reset, recharge and connect with family and friends. Before the summer break, our Hospital celebrated a successful year at the Annual Meeting of the Corporation in June. In my new role as Chair of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Board of Directors, I’m pleased to announce the return of our existing Board of Directors, and the reappointment of the President and Chief Executive Officer to a new term.

Joining the Board is Jesse Fiddler as the new Community Member on the Governance and Nominating Committee. Darlene Furlong was appointed as the new Community Member on the Patient Safety and Quality of Care Committee.

Returning to the Board of Directors for a three-year term is Christine Bates. Along with myself, continuing their terms of office on the Board are Charles Campbell, Dr. Andrew Dean, Kimberly Ferris, Douglas Judson, Michael Pelletier, James Peotto, Matt Simeoni, Joy Wakefield, and Gord Wickham.

Recently departed Board Director and Treasurer John Hatton was remembered fondly and honoured for his leadership, his passion and dedication to the Hospital and the community.

The Board includes the ex-officio Directors Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, Adam Vinet, Chief Nursing Executive, Dr. Bradley Jacobson, Chief of Staff, Dr. Sarita Verma, (former Dean, President and CEO, NOSM University), and Dr. Elrasheed Osman, President, Professional Staff Association.

I am looking forward to working with this incredibly motivated group, aligning the care we provide to the needs of the community and the people we serve. We continue to advance the Hospital’s Strategic Plan 2026; TBRHSC’s 2023-24 Annual Report was released and highlights last year’s accomplishments and our continued commitment to patient and family centred care.

Speaking of which, this month marked 15 years of Sharing and Caring Together, a week-long event demonstrating our successes in patient and family-centred care, culminating in an exhibition displaying some of the initiatives that have been developed to improve the patient experience.

Leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, our Hospital’s Indigenous Collaboration, Equity and Inclusion portfolio organized events to honour the survivors and underscore the importance of Truth and Reconciliation. Starting with a sunrise ceremony, events for staff throughout the month included hand drum making, beading, drumming, and an education session with an Elder and Residential School Survivor. As part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, and the 94 Calls to Action, our Hospital also recently published a report sharing our progress on the Calls to Action and our next steps. We are committed to promoting transparency with our response to the Calls to Action and to continually working towards creating an environment of inclusion, equity and compassion at our Hospital.

The 8th edition of the Trauma Nursing Core Course will take place on November 28 & 29. Developed by the international Emergency Nursing Association, Trauma Nursing Core Course empowers nurses with critical thinking skills, and hands on scenario–based training for:

• Rapid identification of life-threatening injuries
• Comprehensive patient assessment
• Enhanced intervention for better patient outcomes

Date/Time: Thursday, November 28 (800h-1700h) and Friday, November 29 (800h – 1400h)
Location: 44 Algoma Street South

The course includes:

A Systematic Approach of Initial Assessment

The first few minutes of trauma care are critical to achieve better patient outcomes. The A – I mnemonic and trauma Nursing Assessment will assist nurses in providing appropriate and early intervention.

Hands-on Training Using both an Individual and Team Approach

Three psychomotor skill stations offer nurses the opportunity to practice the systematic approach of the initial assessment in real life situations. The skill stations covered are trauma nursing process, airway and ventilation, and trauma interventions.

To register click here!

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared at the Transitional Care Unit as of Tuesday October 01, 2024. All restrictions are in place.

Outbreak # 2262-2024-00105 

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