Training resources and dates can be found at https://outlookhub.tbh.net.
Contact Help.Desk@tbh.net for more information
Shared on behalf of Nicole Moffett, Manager, Emergency Preparedness, Switchboard, and Security
Please note that we are conducting an audit of doors with card readers (and associated door hardware), some styles of panic alarms, and security cameras. Members of our project team (security, IT, facilities, capital planning) will be accompanied by a contractor (Angus Connect), and will be roaming the hospital to document and inspect components of the door and security system. The contractors will always be accompanied by a hospital staff member, and they will be wearing contractor visitor badges.
This audit is being conducted to validate and locate components of the Verex system (which is end of life) and support the approved capital project to replace the system and associated components. We anticipate that some components may be difficult to locate, which may result in multiple visits to select departments.
A significant portion of the audit will be conducted today, March 12, 2024. Remaining components will be assessed over the next two weeks by Daniel Sedano and select project team members.
Please consider making your staff aware of this audit.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. In Ontario, colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death. However, if found early through screening and treated in time, there is a 90 per cent chance it can be cured. It’s time to get screened for colon cancer and get back on track with your health.
“In Northwestern Ontario, we are behind the rest of the province in the number of people who are up to date with colon screening,” shares Dr. Jordan Green, Regional Colorectal Screening and GI Endoscopy Lead for Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “Only 58.4 per cent of eligible people in our region are participating in colon cancer screening. During Colon Cancer Awareness Month, we are encouraging people to talk to their primary care providers about their colon cancer screening options and take action to get screened.”
Individuals ages 50 to 74 with no first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with colon cancer are at average risk for colon cancer and should be screened using a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years. If you have a family history, the recommendations for screening will differ. For example, if you have a first-degree relative who had colon cancer, then a colonoscopy may be a better test. Please check with your primary care provider to determine which test is right for you.
Signs and Symptoms
Some of the signs/symptoms of colon cancer can include:
However, many people will not experience any symptoms, especially at the early stages of colon cancer. This is why screening people who have no symptoms is important. If you are experiencing symptoms, talk to your primary care provider.
What is FIT?
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) has been used to screen for colon cancer in Ontario since 2018. It is a test that effectively detects microscopic amounts of blood in the stool.
“It is an easy, painless test that you can do in privacy of your own home,” explains Dr. Green. “The test is delivered by mail to your home and you can either drop the sample off at your local Life Labs or mail the sample back using the envelope provided to you within the test kit.”
Once you get the FIT kit, there are simple instructions that help guide you through the process.
How to get a FIT kit
The easiest way is to speak with your family doctor or nurse practitioner about getting checked for colon cancer with a FIT kit. If you do not have a primary care provider, you can visit the Screen for Life Coach if it visits your community or call Health811 by dialing 811 to get a FIT kit sent to your home.
If you would like to learn more about where to get screened or receive a test, visit www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening.
Shared on behalf of Mike Martin, Administrative Manager – 3A, 3B, 3C and Neurosurgery Units
Please join me in wishing Alison DeGrazia all the best as she enters into retirement. Alison’s last day will be April 19, 2024.
Alison graduated from Confederation College and began her nursing career as a Registered Nurse in 1985 at McKellar Hospital. In 2004, when Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre opened their doors, Alison worked on 3A as a Surgical Nurse until 2017, where she then became a Patient Flow Coordinator. Soon thereafter, Alison took on an acting leadership role as the 3B Inpatient Manager before becoming the permanent 3B Inpatient Manager in April 2019.
Please join us in thanking Alison, and congratulating her on 38 years of service. We wish her a well-deserved retirement where she will have more time to spend with family and enjoy her 1st grandchild, arriving in April 2024.
Shared on behalf of Mike Martin, Administrative Manager – 3A, 3B, 3C and Neurosurgery Units.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Purves as the Patient Care Manager – 3B Surgical Services effective March 11, 2024.
Anne began her career as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre where she stayed for 12 years. Following her time in ICU she became a Patient Flow Coordinator, which set her up for success in her most current position as the Patient Flow Operations Coordinator.
Anne brings to this position extensive knowledge and experience in Critical Care Nursing, Infection Control and Corporate Patient Flow.
Anne will be responsible for the leadership and management of the 3B Surgical Unit. In collaboration with the Administrative Manager, Anne will be responsible for the ongoing development and leadership of a strong interprofessional care team that supports best practices, innovation, teaching and research in an environment that promotes excellence in patient and family centered care.
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Anne to her new role.
The Muslim community has started celebrations for the holy month of Ramadan! Ramadan is one of the most sacred times for Muslims. Throughout this time, individuals will worship, reflect, read the Quran, participate in charity work and show their devotion to Allah.
As the Islamic calendar is based around the lunar cycle, Ramadan rotates by approximately ten days each year. This year, Ramadan began on Sunday, March 10, and will end on Tuesday, April 9, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Throughout Ramadan, healthy adults will fast from dawn until dusk and abstain from drinking and eating. Individuals will gather with family, friends and their community to break their fast during iftar, which happens around sunset.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is a joyous celebration that commemorates the fast and dedication to acts of worship during the holy month. Families, friends and the community gather to enjoy a meal together prepared with delicacies. Some families exchange gifts during this time.
To wish someone well during Ramadan, you can say Ramadan Mubarak, which translates to ‘blessed Ramadan’.
Ramadan Mubarak!
If you would like to learn more about your role as a healthcare provider for Muslim patients during Ramadan, please click here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525471/
For more information, visit: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/resources/ramadan-timetables
Congratulations to the March 7th Daily Trivia Draw winners for this year’s Employee Recognition Week.
Thank you to all the Hospital and Health Research Institute staff who participated.
🏆 Roadside kits, blanket, water bottle and free Boston Pizza, (Ashley Pitton). Donated by Westland Insurance and Boston Pizza.
🏆 Roadside kits, blanket, water bottle and free Boston Pizza, (Jessica Bonde). Westland Insurance and Boston Pizza.
🏆 Roadside kits, water bottle and free Boston Pizza, (Christiana Fuchs). Westland Insurance and Boston Pizza.
🏆 $50 Goods & Co. gift card, (Trudy VanTeeffelen).
🏆 $25 Petro Canada gift card and Bluetooth speaker, (Stephanie Briand).
🏆 $25 Cheese Encounter gift card and Bluetooth speaker, (Rhiannon Ross).
🏆 $25 Cheese Encounter gift card and Bluetooth speaker, (Marissa Fazzari).
🏆 $25 Cheese Encounter gift card and Bluetooth speaker, (Francine Tees).
🏆 $25 Starbucks gift card, (Tammy Lovato). Donated by Health Hub.
🏆 $25 Starbucks gift card, (Alectyna Lysiuk). Donated by Health Hub.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is very happy to announce that the 2023 Family CARE Grant letters will be sent out via internal mail next week.
This year:
Various items have been funded, including: blood warmers, suicide prevention gowns, thermometers, walkers, wheelchairs, venoscope vein finders, commodes, blood pressure units, breast pumps, and dopplers.
Thank you to the Foundation’s generous donors for their unwavering support and Hospital staff for their extremely helpful applications that will improve patient care.
For more information, please contact Laura Andricciola, Executive Coordinator, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at laura.andricciola@tbh.net.
The iCare impact Awards program is open to all employees, professional staff, and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. It provides a forum for staff to recognize outcomes brought about by other staff, peer-to-peer, for their positive impacts on our patients and their families.
As part of Employee Recognition Week, we’re thrilled to share this year’s deserving winners and nominees. Congratulations to all!
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Annette Klement
Nominees:
Annette Klement
Centralized Waitlist Management Project
Infant & Neonatal Transport Development Team
Renal Department
Professional Staff Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Dr. Hazem Elmansy
Staff Experience Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Pharmacy Department
Nominees:
Angelina Garofalo
Catherine DeGiacomo
Dr. Walid Shahrour
Shanni Valley
Cafeteria
Renovation Team
Pharmacy Department
Quality Huddles Initiative
Screen for Life Coach Team
Staff Advisory Committee
Patient Experience Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Sarah A Myllyaho
Nominees:
Dr. Sam Biggs
Hilary A. Douglas
Kaitlyn Volbracht
Kyle Stroomer
Rita Tosolini
Sarah A Myllyaho
Shelby Zawacki
Tony Scopacasa
Renal Pharmacy
Vision Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Tony Scopacasa
Volunteer Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Jill Biggs
Research, Innovation, and Learning Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
ROSA Robotic Surgical Assistant
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Dr. Mark Henderson
Strategy in Action Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Remote Treatment Planning: Radiation Therapy
Sustainable Future Award
🏅 Winner 🏅
Patient Flow Dashboard Team
Nominees:
Aaron Bruno
Sarah L. Myllyaho
Best Possible Medication
History Pharmacy
Technician Team
Northwestern Ontario
Health Record Program
Patient Flow Dashboard Team
Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen PET Access- Nuclear Medicine Team
Regional Surgical Services
Remote Treatment Planning Radiation Therapy
Specialized High Skills Major Planning Team
Specialty Pharmacy Team
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.
📅 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟳 (📸)
1) The Angioplasty Program was introduced and the first patients received stents at TBRHSC.
2) TBRRI (now the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute), TBRHSC’s research arm, was incorporated.
3) TBRHSC’s Palliative Care e-health was the first in Ontario, allowing oncologists to respond to cancer symptom and pain management and other psychosocial issues.
4) TBHRSC’s first artificial disc implant surgery was performed.
Visit www.tbrhsc.net/20years for more milestones.