Shared on behalf of on behalf of Andrea Raynak, Director of Nursing & Learning

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I am pleased to announce that Marina Bruno has accepted the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Renal Department effective June 17, 2024.

Marina graduated from Lakehead University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

She has spent the majority of her career within the Renal Department working in hemodialysis, with her most recent experience as the Renal CNS in a temporary capacity. Within her limited time in the CNS role, Marina was able to advance multiple projects to facilitate evidence-based practice and, furthermore, act as a mentor and support new and current nursing staff.

Marina has completed her certification in Nephrology Nursing and is enrolled in a Master of Nursing – Advanced Nursing Specialization program at Lakehead University. She is also a lifelong learner, as evidenced by her professional development in palliative care, quality improvement, and Indigenous cultural safety.

Outside of work, Marina enjoys going to camp, gardening, reading and enjoying time with her family.

We are excited to have her as a permanent member of our team, please join me in welcoming Marina to the role!

After last week’s Staff Appreciation BBQ, all staff were entered into a draw for prizes. Here are the winners:

• Danielle Skene
• Ewan Stewart
• Michael Long
• Maggie Smith
• Mehran Midia
• Elli Paul
• Melanie Varrin

Come on down to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation office to pick up your prize, like Ewan here:

In Canada, someone has a stroke every five minutes.

The Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network (NWORSN) is a team that works together with partners across the region for better stroke care. The network addresses needs in the communities across the stroke continuum – prevention, timely access to care, life-saving treatments, systems within the hospitals and rehabilitation. The network’s vision is “FEWER STROKES, BETTER OUTCOMES”.

Why is calling 911 (or your local emergency number) so important?

Calling your emergency services number immediately is vital to ensure that people receive timely access to care and treatment. “We need to be aware of the benefits of calling 9-1-1 and the expertise that first responders and paramedics bring to stroke care,” states Dr. Hassan, Medical Lead for the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network. “They are trained to recognize the signs of stroke and treat the patient quickly”.  Recognition of a potential stroke starts an alert system with the dispatcher and EMS team. This ensures the right people are ready on arrival to act quickly to reduce or eliminate permanent effects of a stroke.

Why is it time so important?

When it comes to stroke treatment options, minutes matter. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is the primary centre in Northwestern Ontario for Stroke Care, which includes the Regional Stroke Unit and one of 11 sites across the province for endovascular treatment (EVT). With the large geographical region, we want to ensure there is no delay in accessing stroke care. Delays can result in a worse outcome as the longer the brain is without blood, the more damage is done.

How do I recognize stroke?

FAST: Face-Is it drooping? Arms-Can you raise both? Speech-Is it slurred or jumbled? And Time, to call 911 or your local emergency number.

A stroke can be mild, moderate or severe which is why FAST evaluation and treatment is essential. Do not delay stroke care. Emergency medical care will always be available at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for those who need it.

Remember to act FAST because minutes matter.  

For more information, visit our website at www.nwostroke.ca

Author: NWORSN Team

Reference:

Secondary Prevention of Stroke: https://www.strokebestpractices.ca/recommendations/secondary-prevention-of-stroke

World Stroke Organization (WSO): Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2022: https://www.world-stroke.org/news-and-blog/news/wso-global-stroke-fact-sheet-2022

Heart & Stroke – Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences

Source: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/canadian-journal-of-neurological-sciences/article/estimating-the-number-hospital-or-emergency-department-presentations-for-stroke-incanada/1E0F45CF9DB3D647DACE8D96CE2336A5

Did you miss the Strategic Plan 2026: Year Two Report Back to All Staff? A recording and presentation are now available (see below)

This informative session offered an overview on the tremendous progress we’ve made during the second year of our Strategic Plan 2026.

In addition to that overview, we debuted a special video that highlights the Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion pillar of Strategic Plan 2026.

Shared on behalf of Wayne Taylor, Director Cardiovascular, Medicine & Renal Program

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We are pleased to announce that Rachael Anne Shaffer has accepted the position of Manager, 2C Cardiovascular & Regional Stroke Unit, Outpatient Vascular Services.

Rachael has worked as a Registered Nurse in both the acute care and public health sectors and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Rachael has spent the past five years as the Professional Practice Lead at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) and has managed large and complex organizational projects while implementing change management and performance management techniques to assist with staff support.

Rachael has obtained White, Yellow and Green Lean Belt Certification with a Gold standing in Lean Sigma Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Training. She brings with her a keen interest in driving excellence in health care practice and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Please join us in welcoming Rachael who begins her new role on July 2, 2024.

As part of our commitment to keeping staff engaged and informed on the Strategic Plan 2026, Strategy and Performance is sharing updates in alignment with the identified priorities: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Patient Experience, Staff Experience and Research, Innovation, & Learning.

The June 12th Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting featured an update on the North West Ontario Digital Health Strategic Roadmap and was presented by Cindy Fedell, Regional Chief Information Officer.

Visit the Strategic Plan 2026 page on the Hospital’s corporate intranet, where these presentations, along with other resources can be found.

Here are some common reasons why people don’t sign up for the Active Commute Challenge, but don’t worry, here are some simple solutions that will help you incorporate active community into your day. No commute is too small.

• But I’m working from home – You can still participate. Replace any trip in your vehicle with an active commute! Taking the bus to the grocery store, biking to an appointment, or walking to a meeting can all be submitted as active commutes.
• But I live in the country – Consider a park and ride – finding a place to park and actively commuting the rest of the way!
• But I don’t feel safe – Consider asking a colleague who is familiar with active commuting to buddy up and show you the ropes – there is safety in numbers. Find a route you are comfortable with – places where walking and bicycling are more common tend to be safer.
• But I have to drop the kids off at school – Consider an active commute with your kids. Being a role model for active transportation will send a positive message to your children.
• But there’s just no way I can – If you’re still stuck and there is no way around the need to drive to work, consider an active commute on your break or lunch. Walk or bike to the coffee shop or for lunch. Better yet, ask a colleague to join and double those active kilometers.

Shared on behalf of Help Desk

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We are writing to make you aware of a recent security incident involving Cisco’s Duo multi-factor authentication service that has impacted our organization.

On April 25, 2024, Cisco disclosed that an attacker compromised a Duo cloud service and gained unauthorized access to customer data. This included phone numbers, carrier information and SMS logs used for multi-factor authentication.

Our security team has analyzed the data and notified staff members whose information was exposed.

If you were not contacted, your Duo account details were not part of this incident. However, it’s always prudent to review your accounts for any suspicious activity.

Protecting Against Phishing

One of the primary risks from this incident is increased phishing attempts targeting our staff. Attackers may try to trick you into sharing login credentials or other sensitive data.

To protect yourself and our organization:

• Be extremely cautious of any unsolicited emails, texts, phone calls or other communications asking for your login credentials or personal information.
• Verify the legitimacy of any such requests by contacting the sender directly using known contact information – do not use the contact details provided in the suspicious message.
• When in doubt, do not respond and report any suspected phishing attempts to Help.Desk@tbh.net
• Use unique, complex passwords for all your accounts and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible.

Our team is actively monitoring for any threats related to this incident. Please stay vigilant and let us know if you have any other concerns.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.  If you have any questions please reach out help.desk@tbh.net.           

Shared on behalf of  Ryan Sears, Code Grey – Air Exclusion Executive Sponsor

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As we begin to encounter the effects of wildfire season in our region, it is important that we review and follow our Code Grey – Air Exclusion Policy.

To date, Environment Canada has issued one special air quality statement for the Thunder Bay area related to smoke plumes from active wildfires this season. These fires put particles and gases into the air that can be harmful to human health. When this occurs, people may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or shortness of breath. Our Air Exclusion Policy aims to reduce this risk to the internal environment and mitigate or reduce these associated impacts.

With Ontario’s legislated fire season running from April 1 to October 31 annually, leadership will continue to monitor air quality alerts and adjust our Hospital’s response as required.

Please take a moment to complete the Recommended Actions below.

Recommended Actions

• Review the Code Grey – Air Exclusion (Button Down) policy and associated refresher Safety Huddle (attached). Familiarize yourself with the policy and related procedures.
• Visit www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk along with current and forecasted Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) values.

Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

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We are nearly halfway through 2024, and summer is just around the corner. It is a time to enjoy the beauty of Northwestern Ontario with our friends and family. For me, and my fellow Board members, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the great work and new initiatives that continue to take place at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).

As we close off the second year of our Strategic Plan 2026, I want to highlight the strategic priority of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). The EDI pillar is significant for ensuring the best possible health care experience for patients and families across Northwestern Ontario. To sustain and build on the work to date, we are reinforcing our dedication to EDI and actively working to cultivate a culturally sensitive environment for all patients, families, and staff. Our efforts include making cultural safety and equity, diversity, and inclusion training a requirement for all staff members. Embedding this education will enable our staff to recognize and address racism and actively participate in anti-racism efforts.

We remain committed to acknowledging and honouring the strength of Indigenous Peoples and communities. To this end, we are providing our staff with opportunities to deepen their understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and traditions. Providing these options to expand the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples will support our journey toward truth and reconciliation. By implementing these initiatives, we are working to foster a more inclusive and positive experience for patients, families, and staff. TBRHSC is committed to creating an environment that provides care where every individual is
treated with kindness, respect, and understanding.

Last month, we celebrated National Nursing Week (May 6-10). Nurses make up the largest group of employees at our Hospital. National Nursing Week provides an opportunity to recognize their clinical excellence, versatility, and ability to care for patients with compassion and professionalism. Indigenous Nurses Day also took place on May 6. Indigenous nurses play a vital role in the health care system, providing culturally relevant care, while raising awareness and promoting wellness and healing for Indigenous communities. We acknowledge the dedication and achievements of nursing professionals and recognize that nurses are a key factor in patient care. TBRHSC nurses work tirelessly, and we appreciate their expertise and commitment. A big thank you goes out to all nurses for their incredible contributions to providing exceptional care to the people of Thunder Bay and those across Northwestern Ontario who visit our Hospital.

TBRHSC is dedicated to making the Hospital environment more accessible for patients, families, volunteers, and staff. Last month, we reached out to the community and stakeholders to help us develop our revised multi-year Accessibility Plan. By updating our Accessibility Plan, TBRHSC will continue to identify, remove, and prevent any accessibility barriers to care, services, work, and learning. We highly value the input we received and believe that this perspective is crucial in making the most meaningful and impactful changes. Thank you to all members of the community who took the time to provide their input and we look forward to sharing the updated Plan with you in the Fall.

Before I sign-off for this Board year, I would like to thank my fellow Board members for their continued commitment. We would not be able to do this work without your guidance, dedication, and passion for serving the patients and families in our region.

As well, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of Mr. John Hatton, a long time Board member who recently passed away. John’s input and expertise, as well as his perspective on system issues was key to so much of our work. John’s positive energy, guidance and friendship will be sincerely missed. He was a community leader and was active in so many vital community endeavours. We offer sincere condolences to his family and many friends.

I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer.