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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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:
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.
As we approach Canada Day and the summer months, I wanted to reach out with a quick update on some progress we have been making as we wrap up the 2023-24 fiscal year.
First, we recently reported to both staff and community partners on the progress with the Year Two implementation of Strategic Plan 2026. If you missed it live, you can watch the All-Staff Session here or read about Year Two in the Annual Report.
On the staffing front, I am happy to report that over the past few weeks we have onboarded many new staff and Professional Staff. To all our new staff, I truly appreciate your decision to start your career or continue your career with us. We wholeheartedly welcome you and look forward to working with you and learning as a team on how we can better the care we provide. Thank you for choosing us and I trust your experience to date has been positive. My door is always open if you’d like to chat.
As mentioned in my May Blog, an environmental refresh is underway in our Hospital. The initial renovations have begun within the in-patient rooms of the 3C – Surgery and Neurosurgery Unit. The work will continue throughout the summer with little disruption to the units. You will likely observe contractors coming and going as they work to revitalize the care spaces with new paint, fixtures, floor polishing, minor repairs, and decorative accents to revitalize each room. The work will progress to other areas as project timelines are followed with the next units 3B and 3A In-Patient Surgery Units. The upgrades will contribute to a more positive workspace and patient experience.
Now, while summer is here, as a tertiary care academic health sciences centre, we know patient needs don’t stop just because of the season. People need care and we need to be ready to provide patients and families the care that is culturally appropriate and responsive to their needs. As you likely know, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) pillar of our Strategic Plan 2026 was a major focus throughout the year and we continue to work on embedding EDI in everything we do for staff, professional staff, volunteers, patients and families. In case you missed it, see what we have done and where we are going with this pillar – EDI VIDEO. Thank you for all your hard work in bringing us closer to our vision Exceptional care for every patient, every time. Your incredible work is making a difference.
To that end, to celebrate you and thank you for all your hard work through the year, we hope you had a chance to make it to the Staff Appreciation BBQ for some incredible food and comradery. I was thrilled to take part in this event and see so many of you that I don’t often get to see.
Thank you to the many people involved in making this a success and especially to all of you who make our Hospital and Health Research Institute community a great place to work, thrive and grow.
In addition, it was great to attend the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration and Awards Dinner on June 19th. The event is an opportunity to celebrate those who make a difference by giving their time and energy to perform a vital role as they support various programs and services – all in support of our vision of Exceptional care for every patient, every time. Volunteer roles span a number of services and administrative activities that may encompass supporting patients either directly or indirectly. We value the work of volunteers and the dinner was just one way to thank them for their commitment. Thank you to all the volunteers that are such a big part of our Hospital and Health Research Institute community. We couldn’t do it without you!
Finally, I would like to thank Gord Wickham, our outgoing Hospital Board Chair for his dedication and guidance over the last three years. During his tenure, there were incredible accomplishments made and success with many challenges. Such as managing our way through the various stages of COVID-19, launching a new Strategic Plan, and obtaining accreditation with exemplary standing; to name a few. We are grateful for Gord’s leadership and guidance and we look forward to upholding the highest standards of governance and stewardship with our newly appointed Board Chair, Pat Lang. Pat is an incredible addition as Board Chair with an immense amount of leadership and community experience. She brings to the role her current experience as a Director and Chair of Operations with Ornge, and former experience as the President of Confederation College, and former Director of Cancer Care Ontario. In addition, Pat was also honoured as a member of the Order of Canada in 2017. Pat has incredible insight on health care and I look forward to working with her and the full Board moving forward.
As always, I invite you to provide me your feedback on these blogs or on any other matter. You can contact me at: rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
The weekly Staff Smudge Ceremony at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will continue throughout the summer. All staff are invited to join Annette Klement, Cultural Safety Educator, to participate in this Ceremony. All Ceremonies will take place in the Multi-Faith Room. See below for the news dates.
