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 📅 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟳 (📸)
1) TBRHSC announced the implementation of vascular surgery and on-site endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for patients and families in Northwestern Ontario.
2) TBRHSC ranked as a top research hospital for the seventh consecutive year.
3) TBRHSC was recognized for achievement in organ and tissue donation.
Each year, the Wellness Committee creates a health and wellness calendar that features our staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers.
We are currently recruiting individuals to be featured in the 2025 calendar. Share with us the activity you do to stay healthy, your favourite healthy recipe, or a health and wellness fun fact.
$2.9 million investment bringing 15 new safe sobering beds to Thunder Bay and surrounding areas
Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Michael Tibollo (middle), announced $2.9 million in funding for 15 safe sobering beds in Thunder Bay.
The Ontario government is investing over $2.9 million in 15 safe sobering beds in Thunder Bay, making it easier for people under the influence of substances to access a safe place to sleep and get the care they need. This funding will be provided to St. Joseph’s Care Group to provide people with culturally appropriate and trauma informed addictions treatment in their community, avoiding unnecessary visits to emergency departments and police involvement.
“With this investment, we’re ensuring communities like Thunder Bay have access to culturally appropriate mental health and addictions supports,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Our government will continue making significant investments in Northern Ontario to fill critical gaps in care and ensure people have access to safe and effective mental health and addictions services, when and where they need them.”
Safe sobering beds are a voluntary service that provides a safe place for individuals under the influence of substances, such as drugs or alcohol, for up to 24 hours. While there, individuals are able to connect to other community resources and health care and treatment supports including withdrawal management services and a Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine clinic (RAAM).
These new safe sobering beds are one of the many investments the Ontario government has made to connect people in Thunder Bay to high quality, evidence-based mental health and addictions care, including:
Launching a new Youth Wellness Hub to serve Thunder Bay and surrounding areas. Beginning in 2025, the new hub will connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas to convenient and free mental health, substance use, primary care, Indigenous healing and well-being services in a safe, youth-friendly space.
Investing over $2.4 million annually over three years through the Addictions Recovery Fund to add 34 new addictions treatment beds in Thunder Bay to connect more people to addictions treatment supports
Launching a new, paramedic-led mobile crisis response team to make it easier and more convenient for people experiencing homelessness and/or mental health and addictions crises to get the support they need, without involving police.
“Our government is continuing to build more connected and convenient mental health and addictions services in communities across the province,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to expand safer sober beds will ensure people in Thunder Bay can connect to the mental health care and support services they need, when they need it, closer to home.”
Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is making it easier and faster for people of all ages to connect to the care they need, where and when they need it. This includes getting shovels in the ground for over 50 hospital developments across the province that will add an additional 3,000 new hospital beds over the next 10 years.
Quick Facts
The sobering centre will be in close proximity to Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre with the ability to refer to medical care, community resources, food and shelter.
The safe sobering model of care was identified by a group of health, social and Indigenous-led organizations including St. Joseph’s Care Group, Ontario Health North West, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay Police Service, Superior North Emergency Medical Services, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and Crossroads Centre in response to the recommendations from the November 2022 Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of two Indigenous men.
Through the Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs.
As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs.
Quotes
“Our government continues to fulfill our commitment of making mental health and addictions a priority. Safe sobering beds provide a much-needed service to people who need a safe place to sleep and can also help connect them with the appropriate services in their community that meet their needs. By investing in targeted addictions services, we are providing regional resources that are needed to keep our communities safe and support people with the help they need.”
– Kevin Holland, MPP, Thunder Bay—Atikokan
“Every journey for people living with addictions is different. It is important to offer a continuum of services that will now include a place to safely sober. On behalf of St. Joseph’s Care Group, thank you for choosing to make this investment in compassionate and safe care for our community.”
– Janine Black, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group
“This is welcoming news and the investment for safe sobering is critical to our community. This additional support brings valuable infrastructure and opportunities with partners for better care delivery to address key service gaps for people dealing with addiction challenges. We look forward to the partnerships that will improve access to services and delivery of respectful, trauma-informed, and compassionate care for individuals in need.”
– Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President & CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Sent on behalf of Ryan Sears – Director, Capital & Facility Services
Please be advised the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (at the 980 Oliver Road location only) will execute a planned impairment of its entire Overhead Paging System and Fire System on Thursday, September 26, 2024 for approximately four (4) hours – starting at 11:00 PM to facilitate project related work for the Renal Pod E renovation.
Our Facilities and Security teams will be enacting and overseeing our Fire System Impairment and Fire Watch procedures, as included in the Fire Plan for our site.
During this impairment, no Hot Work will be authorized. Further, any high risk work that could result in an elevated risk of fire, heat, or smoke should not be planned – please review this within your department and plan to discontinue high-risk activities (i.e. construction, repairs, hot showers, etc). Should you observe activities that may be of concern during the impairment, contact your Supervisor or Manager to discuss.
While the Hospital’s Overhead Paging System is out of service, alternate measures will be applied to notify the organization of Emergency Codes and Alerts. Staff will continue to activate all Codes using extension 55. Please see the attached policy for guidance.
Key things to remember during an outage:
Regularly monitor email for emergency code and alert notices issued by Switchboard.
Respond to emergency codes and alerts through alternate communication measures, e.g., paging, radios, emails, runners, etc., as appropriate – and activate response as required.
Be vigilant in reviewing department activities during the period of fire system impairment.
Clinical leads are encouraged to collaborate with their teams to consider alternatives to paging patients back to units, such as collecting Patients’ mobile phone numbers.
Further, in event of fire during this impairment, please execute all steps as outlined in Code Red Policy (EMER-30) and your area sub plan. Should you discover a fire – “REACT”:
R – Remove persons in immediate danger
E – Ensure doors are closed to confine fire or smoke
A – Activate the fire alarm by pulling the nearest pull station
C– Call Switchboard at Ext 55 to report the location of the fire
T– Try to extinguish the fire if trained to do so or continue to evacuate
The contractor for the fire system work is Troy Life & Fire Safety. The Building System Operator is onsite and reachable at cell number 629-7005. Further support will be provided by Security (684-6509) and the on call Facility Manager (cell number 629-3119) as required.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please contact Ryan Sears.
NICU nurses (L-R) : Kathleen Gillespie, Giulia Pilato, Allison Leclerc, Taylor Bodar NICU Manager (far right): Jennifer Somera
Neonatal Nurses Week is celebrated each year to shine a spotlight on the impact that people in the neonatal nursing profession make. This week we celebrate the incredible contributions of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Neonatal Nurses. The hard work and dedication of these front-line heroes of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) makes a huge difference in the lives of our tiniest patients and their families.
Please join us this Neonatal Nurses Week (September 15-21) by thanking our NICU nurses for their tremendous contributions to patient and family centred care.
The Security Services department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre strives to provide a safe and secure environment for all patients, visitors, and staff. They are on site and available 24/7 to provide assistance to those in need. Security Staff Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize their commitment to our safety.
We would like to give a heartfelt thanks to these hard-working and highly-trained individuals for the important job they do.
To contact our Security Services department, dial extension 6509 or visit the Security window adjacent to the Visitor Information desk at the west entry.
Jon Cada of Blind River is the winner of the March 50/50 Grand Prize of $1,740,910.
When Jon Cada of Blind River, Ontario, received the life-changing call in March 2023 that he had won the Thunder Bay 50/50 grand prize of $1.74 million, it was, as Jon put it, “a Great Friday, not just a Good Friday.” Now, a few months after his big win, Jon is still grateful, but his focus remains grounded in the things that matter most: family, friends, and the positive impact the lottery has on healthcare in Northwestern Ontario.
Since winning the March 50/50, Jon has been busy helping out the ones he loves, a gesture he says is just as rewarding as the money itself. “For me, as rewarding as this money has been, it hasn’t changed who I am. It also hasn’t changed what I do,” Jon shared.
Jon, who serves as an Economic Development Officer in Mississauga First Nation, continues to support the Thunder Bay 50/50 by purchasing tickets every month. Despite already having won, Jon sees the lottery as more than a game of chance, but a meaningful way to contribute to better healthcare. “I never had any expectations of winning. To me, it is a donation, and it’s heartwarming to see where the money goes,” he says, reflecting on the impact of the funds raised.
The Thunder Bay 50/50 has raised millions to support the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and Jon is one of many winners who have seen firsthand how the funds help provide vital equipment and services for local hospitals. “It’s helped a lot of people realize that this is real; you can win, even if you don’t think you can. But more than that, it’s a way to ensure our hospitals can deliver the high-quality, closer-to-home care we all deserve,” Jon adds.
With his winnings, Jon purchased a new set of wheels and a trailer and has been spending time exploring the North Shore with his father. But perhaps most importantly, he remains committed to educating others about the power of giving. “I’m happy to see that good things are happening, and I’ll continue to spread the word about how much the 50/50 can support,” he says.
For Jon Cada, the Thunder Bay 50/50 hasn’t just been a stroke of luck; it’s been an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of those around him and in the communities that rely on the hospital lottery’s support. “It’s truly a win-win, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
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Drop-In WebEx Training Sessions September 20, 25
Join this WebEx meeting anytime you are free between 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The iCare Impact Awards program is open to all employees, professional staff, Patient Family Advisors, and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. It provides a forum for peer-to-peer recognition of positive impacts on our patients and their families.
Nominate now for 2024 to recognize a peer and for a chance to win exciting monthly participation prizes! https://icare-awards.tbrhsc.net/
