Maternity Centre Mondays: June Babies!

Welcome to our June babies!

The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.

No referrals are necessary to access care at the Maternity Centre.

During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.

This week’s Maternity Centre Monday post welcomes the 118 babies born at TBRHSC during the month of June. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more at our website bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre.

Medical Imaging Requisition Management is Live

Starting June 25, 2024, Medical Imaging Requisition Management (MIRM) is now available.

Regional Central Intake for CT (For Scheduled Outpatient Exams)

CT Central Intake will pair referred patients who are willing and able to travel to the soonest available testing location OR preferred location/community.

New eFax number is 1-855-461-3493.

Referrals can be made to CT Central Intake by all five Ocean sites via eReferral below or the new eFax number.

Note: Each of the following Ocean listings and eFaxes are for all modalities EXCEPT for CT referrals, which must be stent to the new CT Central Intake

Riverside Health

  • New eFax number is 1-855-461-3562
  • Ocean Listing: Diagnostic Imaging – La Verendrye Hospital

Lake of the Woods District Hospital

  • New eFax number is 1-855-490-2241
  • Ocean Listing: LWDH Diagnostic Imaging/ECG

Dryden Regional Health Centre

  • New eFax number is 1-855-461-6931
  • Ocean Listing: Dryden RHC DI

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre

  • New eFax number is 1-855-490-2287
  • Ocean Listing: Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre – Diagnostic Imaging

Questions? Contact Nicole Brown at nicole.brown@fset.ca.

Thunder Bay Adult Urology Referral Quick Reference Guide

Shared on behalf of Caroline Fanti, Director, Regional Orthopaedic Program


In order to best triage and prioritize the high volume of urology referrals received from across Northwestern Ontario, our Regional Surgical Services and Central Intake Program, along with Superior Urology have developed the Thunder Bay Adult Urology Referral Quick Reference. This document provides evidence-based guidance to support primary care with referral completion, enabling timely and equitable access to care for patients.

Every referral received at Central Intake is reviewed within 24 hours (excluding weekends), and actioned by the Central Intake team as directed by Superior Urology. Referrals are routed to support urgency, shortest wait time and care close to home. Surgeon choice is honoured whenever possible as determined by urgency and referral indication.

For any queries on referral requirements or referral status, please call Urology Central Intake at extension 7360.The Central Intake fax number is 1-855-975-2418.

Incomplete referrals will be declined back to the sender to request mandatory information if it is not provided. Referrals sent direct to Specialist instead of Central Intake will automatically be declined back.

Please share this resource and information with staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to Caroline Fanti at caroline.fanti@tbh.net.

2023 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award Winner: Annette Klement

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!

2023 Patient Experience Award Winner: Sarah A. Myllyaho

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!

Exciting Milestone for TBRHSC’s Cardiovascular Surgery Program

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is thrilled to announce a significant milestone for the Cardiovascular Surgery Program project. The Ministry of Health has approved our Hospital’s submission to advance to Stage 3.1, the Final Estimate of Cost Submission, allowing us to proceed to the tendering phase of the project.

This progress marks a critical step toward enhancing cardiovascular services in our region and bringing care closer to home for patients and families in Northwestern Ontario. The approval to submit the final cost estimate and initiate the tendering process is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, stakeholders, and the unwavering support from our community through their generous donations to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation

It is important to note that while this is a major advancement for the project, it is not the final approval to commence construction. Our Hospital is required to seek Ministry approval before awarding or issuing any construction contracts.

Together, we are shaping the future of cardiovascular healthcare in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.

Follow our social media and visit www.tbrhsc.net for more updates on the progress of our Hospital’s Cardiovascular Surgery Program.

PFCC: The Basics

Throughout the year, our Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) team will bring you iNformed posts highlighting important initiatives and strategies to help you promote PFCC at our Hospital. This week’s post outlines the basic concepts of PFCC.

What is PFCC?

Patient and Family Centred Care is the provision of care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient/family preferences, needs and values, and ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions.

As an organization, PFCC is the guiding philosophy for everything we do. This means that we are committed to working with patients and families, rather than doing things to or for them.

What are the core concepts of PFCC?

Dignity and Respect – Listening to and honouring patient and family perspectives and choices by incorporating their knowledge, values, beliefs and culture into the planning and delivery of care.

Communication & Information Sharing – Communicating and sharing complete, unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are useful and supportive. Patients and families are also encouraged to share all necessary and relevant information with their care team.

Collaboration – Patients, families and health care providers can collaborate in policy and program development, professional education, and in the delivery of care. Collaboration is also where co-design sits, as it involves actively engaging patients and their families in the design and improvement of health care services. By incorporating insights, experiences, and feedback, health care providers can better tailor care to meet the unique needs and preferences of patients, leading to more personalized, effective, and exceptional care.

Participation – Patients and families are encouraged and supported to participate in experiences that build on their strengths and enhance their control and independence.

Why is PFCC important at TBRHSC?

PFCC is a partnership involving patients, families and health care providers that results in safe, quality care. It ensures that all information shared is clear, complete, timely, accurate and useful in helping patients and families effectively participate in care and decision-making. Through evidence-informed strategies, TBRHSC staff can ensure that patients receive care that helps to foster engagement and collaboration within the health care setting.

Fire Extinguisher Training (July 30)

Learn to prevent and extinguish fires with instruction from Thunder Bay Fire Rescue. 

Attendees of this training will receive instruction on the classification of fire, types of fire extinguishers, proper extinguisher selection, safe handling practices, and the four step P-A-S-S system of fire extinguisher use. 

Training will take place on site, in the laneway between B2 and I lot (see map). Two sessions available:

  • July 30, 2024 @ 1:00 p.m.
  • July 30, 2024 @ 1:30 p.m.

Register early as space is limited.

Registration link:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/c16dad099ddb4bf390dc0eb02eed7de3

Interim Support, Diagnostic Imaging

Shared on behalf of Peter Myllymaa, Vice President, Operations, Clinical and Support Services and CFO


In follow-up to the June 24, 2024 memo announcing Katherine (Kati) Tuomi as the Interim Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, please note that we have also recruited additional interim support.  We are pleased to announce that Mike Sharma has been contracted to provide interim strategic and director oversight for Diagnostic Imaging effective July 4, 2024.

Mike brings a wealth of experience to support this interim role, having been in healthcare for over thirty (30) years and having held such prominent positions as Director of Diagnostic Imaging at Guelph General Hospital, Director of Clinical Diagnostics at North York General Hospital, and Director of Diagnostics at Niagara Health. 

As of July 4, 2024, interim leadership for Diagnostic Imaging will be conducted in partnership with Kati and Mike, with Mike reporting directly to me. 

Please join me in welcoming Mike to our organization and supporting both Kati and Mike as we work towards fulfilling the leadership positions for Diagnostic Imaging.  The recruitment process for the management positions in Diagnostic Imaging is in progress and an announcement will be made once completed.

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