Did you know that Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott made history by becoming Canada’s first formally credentialed Black doctor? He attended the Toronto School of Medicine and received his license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada, paving the way for future generations of Black medical professionals.
Dr. Abbott then moved to the United States to practice medicine but later returned to Canada, where he spent his last years writing about Black history and medicine.
Dr. Abbott also advocated for racially integrated schools and believed that Black access to higher education was essential. His legacy continues to inspire and uplift communities to this day.
Meet Debra Bishop, nurse practitioner at the Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).
Debra works with a multidisciplinary team including obstetricians, family physicians and allied health professionals. In her role, Debra supports the pregnancy journey by providing pre- and post-natal care, as well as care for newborns up to two months old. Providing support for mental health, addictions and other complex medical needs is also within the nurse practitioner’s scope of practice.
“Pregnancy is a time of excitement and can be filled with many questions, doubts and concerns,” says Bishop. “It is very rewarding to be able to help people who are pregnant and families through these moments. For many, early access and support means positive lifestyle changes that help to ensure a healthy pregnancy with positive lifelong changes.”
Call the Maternity Centre today for an appointment with a nurse practitioner at 807-684-6228 ext 0.
No referrals are necessary to access care at the Maternity Centre.
For more information on the programs and services available visit our website at bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre.
We send our deepest condolences to Mona Hardy’s family, friends, her community of Rocky Bay First Nation, and all those affected by this loss as our dear friend makes her way to the Spirit World.
Mona’s intelligence, respect, sincerity, humour and empathy made her a key figure within the community, and her life experience allowed her to engage with people in meaningful ways.
As a long-serving volunteer, Mona dedicated over 10 years of her life to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation (TBRHSF). Her exemplary dedication displayed the essential role volunteers fulfill to help ensure patients have the best experience possible. Mona advocated for a strengthened relationship between patients and professional staff by providing input on policies and processes.
Mona was one of the first Patient Family Advisor volunteers at TBRHSC. Mona’s insight, openness and empathy have made her very well respected and sought out in her role as a Patient Family Advisor. In this role, she sat on the Indigenous Advisory and PRIDE committees. As a strong advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, she brought light to issues and gave a voice to the transgender community, not only at the Hospital but also throughout Thunder Bay.
Mona spent quality time with patients who were undergoing renal dialysis, becoming a mentor to patients and their families. This connection allowed her to help patients learn how to live and self-manage their lives on dialysis. To brighten the spirit of renal patients, she would host BINGO and organize an annual Mother’s Day Tea Party for Renal patients and staff, which always brought a smile to patients.
Additionally, as a dedicated volunteer at the TBRHSF, Mona has inspired the community to donate to the Foundation. She would often be in the main hallway, selling tickets for Foundation draws and interacting with patients and visitors, bringing joy to all through each interaction.
In 2021, Mona was recognized for her outstanding contributions to volunteering and was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. This prestigious award is the highest honour for volunteer service that an individual can receive within the Canadian Honours System.
Everyone she knew was touched deeply by the incredible qualities that Mona possessed. Her heart was full of love, kindness, and compassion. Mona’s positive outlook on life was contagious, and she always went beyond to help others. Her generosity knew no bounds, and she will be remembered for what it means to be a truly caring person.
The flags at the Hospital will be lowered to half-mast on Friday, February 16, in honour of Mona.
Over the next two weeks, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and many other communities will gather to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
This celebration reflects the rich heritage, culture and traditions of those who celebrate the Lunar New Year. This is a time to uphold traditions of honouring Deities and Ancestors while inviting blessings for the year ahead and is often spent with family and friends.
The Chinese New Year marks the start of each year on the Chinese calendar, which is named after one of 12 different animals. We are entering the Year of the Dragon, which is considered one of the luckiest animals in the Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon offers the hope of good health and good fortune for the new year.
The Lunar New Year begins in late January or early February, according to the moon cycle that year. The 15-day celebration begins with the new moon and lasts until the first full moon of year.
We wish a happy, healthy and prosperous Lunar New Year to all that celebrate!
Shared on behalf of the Falls Prevention Committee
We are excited to announce the re-launch of our Falls Prevention Committee!
The purpose of the Falls Prevention Committee is to prevent falls and reduce injuries from falling at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. This committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss current trends in falls data and potential preventive strategies for implementation.
For more information, please see the attached page from the Nursing Newsletter. You can also visit our Falls Prevention Committee page on the intranet, which includes our meeting minutes and various resources.
Province providing funding to support Alternative Level of Care and Patient Flow initiativesKevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay-AtikokanJanine Black, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group
Ontario Providing One-Time Funding to Support Alternative Level of Care and Patient Flow
Province providing funding to support Alternative Level of Care and Patient Flow initiatives Province providing funding to support Alternative Level of Care and Patient Flow initiatives
Date: 2024-02-15
Thunder Bay, ON – Thunder Bay – The Ontario government is providing $4,688,980 in funding to support the Alternative Level of Care (ALC) and Patient Flow initiatives in Thunder Bay for 2023-24. Funding will be provided to St. Joseph’s Care Group for Admission Diversion and Discharge Supports, which will assist with increased home, community and behavioural supports.
This investment is part of the $131 million one-time funding that is used to reduce ALC cases and support patient flow from hospitals to more appropriate settings.
“This funding from the Ministry of Health further demonstrates our government’s commitment to supporting the work of our healthcare leaders as they deliver holistic, innovative models of care,” said Kevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan. “St. Joseph’s Care Group will use this funding to increase capacity in delivering more appropriate patient diversion pathways to the varied populations of their vast service area. We wish to thank The Honourable Syliva Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, for her prudent leadership in enabling the reduction of ALC cases and improved patient flow, thereby moving us that much closer to achieving our collective goal of the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
“When it comes to the healthcare needs of our region, funding that allows for innovation and local solutions is crucial. This $4.6 million investment has increased capacity for care closer to home across Northwestern Ontario, provided more care in the right place for people whose needs are not best met in a hospital, and enabled earlier interventions to keep people healthier, longer.” Janine Black, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Care Group.
These initiatives were launched in 2022-23 to support health system and recovery, with current projections show a reduction of approximately 2200 ALC cases by the end of this fiscal year.
Media Contact
Karson Cameron, Director of Communications Office of Kevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan 807-623-6702 karson.cameron@pc.ola.org Kevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan
Backgrounder
On February 15, 2024, the Ontario government announced $4.6 million in one year (2023-2024) funding to increase capacity for care closer to home across Northwestern Ontario, provide more care in the right place for people whose needs are not best met in a hospital, and enable earlier interventions to keep people healthier, longer.
How St. Joseph’s Care Group is meeting local and regional needs with this investment can be grouped into two categories: Admission Diversion and Discharge from Hospital With Supports.
Admission Diversion
Willow Place Community Transitional Care Unit – $2,264,900
Willow Place is a 32-bed community-based transitional care unit for people who no longer require specialized care in hospital and are waiting for appropriate space in the community to become available. Appropriate spaces can include supportive housing, long-term care, Indigenous housing, a return to home with modifications/renovations, or a return to their home community.
From opening in October 2022 through December 2023, Willow Place has admitted 112 clients with 79 people successfully moving to community.
Seniors Supportive Housing – $917, 080
This investment increases funding levels for supportive housing services. It means that seniors whose needs have changed will receive more services to continue to live as independently as possible in the community, delaying potential admission to long-term care. Examples of services include homemaking, personal support, security checks and care coordination services.
St. Joseph’s Care Group operates two seniors’ supportive housing apartment buildings, with 132 units at Sister Leila Greco Apartments, and 181 units at PR Cook Apartments.
North West Regional Rehabilitative Care Program – $190,000
The North West Regional Rehabilitative Care Program (RRCP) provides capacity-building, best practice education, and care management support. Coupled with outreach services to bridge physiotherapy and occupational therapy vacancies in the region, these strategies enable and elevate the standard level of care across Northwestern Ontario.
Between April and December of 2023, the RRCP has conducted 1,200 outreach service visits to more than 390 clients at 10 different sites. For people living in the region, it has saved 636,000km of travelling to receive care while reducing the wait time for post-surgical outpatient physiotherapy by 122 days. Janine Black, President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Care Group
Discharge from Hospital With Supports
Frailty Identification & Transition – $647,000
In partnership with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), early identification, screening and assessment of older adults at risk of frailty is conducted by a St. Joseph’s Care Group geriatric-trained occupational therapist and physiotherapist in the emergency department, allowing for timely referrals or transitions to other care settings. For older adults, it means accessing the right care as soon as possible whether that is to home with supports, a referral to Seniors’ Outpatient Services, or admission to St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Geriatric Assessment & Rehabilitative Care unit.
This funding also supports clients returning to community on completion of Geriatric Assessment & Rehabilitative Care through post-discharge services and therapeutic recreation. For older adults and their families, it instils the confidence to live well in the community, while also avoiding emergency department or hospital readmissions.
Behavioural Supports Ontario – $630,000
This funding has been primarily used to expand the reach of St. Joseph’s Care Group’s Psychogeriatric Resources Consultant (PRC) to grow capacity to provide safe, appropriate care for older adults who have or are at risk of responsive behaviours among hospitals and long-term care homes across Northwestern Ontario, including at Nipigon District Memorial Hospital and Geraldton District Hospital.
Responsive behaviours are actions, words or gestures presented by a person living with dementia as a way of responding to something negative, frustrating or confusing in their social and physical environment. By identifying and having a plan to avoid responsive behaviours, older adults are able to receive the care they deserve with dignity and respect. For providers, it means having the education, mentoring and supports they need to provide the best quality of care possible closer to home.
Bedsitter Program at PR Cook Apartments – $40,000
Following inpatient rehabilitative care at St. Joseph’s Hospital, many people require outpatient rehabilitation after retuning home in order to complete their recovery. For people who live in the region, outpatient rehabilitation may not be available in their home community. The Bedsitter Program at PR Cook Apartments provides temporary accommodation and related expenses in an accessible environment with transitional services while they complete outpatient rehabilitation at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Unlike a hospital stay, the Bedsitter Program combines a homelike environment with outpatient rehabilitation, building confidence before returning home to the region. For the healthcare system, it means more inpatient beds are available for those in need, is more cost-effective than a hospital stay, and leads to more successful transitions back to community.
About St. Joseph’s Care Group
St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG) combines tradition and innovation in responding to the unmet needs of the people of Northwestern Ontario since 1884. Offering a broad range of programs and services in Mental Health & Addictions, Rehabilitative Care, and Seniors’ Health across eight sites in the City of Thunder Bay and through our regional leadership roles, we continue advancing our vision to become a leader in client-centred care by being here for our clients, our people, our partners, and our future. With over 2,200 staff and growing, we pride ourselves on maintaining our core values of Care, Compassion, and Commitment. We are recognized as a leader in delivering safe, high-quality health care and have been Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest level awarded by Accreditation Canada.
The Quality & Patient Safety Community of Practice will be hosting a connecting call on February 22!
Please see below for more information and registration details:
Join us on Thursday, February 22, from12 p.m. – 1 p.m. for our connecting call titled “Patient Safety Culture Building and Leadership”.
The Patient Safety Program at Ontario Health invites you to join us as we hear from Dr. Amir Ginzburg, Clinical Lead, Quality, Ontario Health, Kylie Morton, Administrator/Director of Care at Streamway Villa, long-term care home, and Ontario Health team members about the importance of patient safety culture.
Our speakers will provide experiences on building patient safety culture and the role of leadership in this work.
Discussions will highlight the insights that were shared in the 2023/24 Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) patient safety narrative submissions as we wrap up the findings from this past year!
Emergency fan out is used as a means to notify workers of an emergency. It’s a telephone based procedure where the person at the top of a call tree (pre-identified individuals such as unit lead, manager, etc.) starts a communication chain by contacting assigned people. These people, in turn, contact additional groups of workers assigned to them until the information is completely circulated. Our Emergency Fan-Out (EMER-110) policy requires that Managers or designates update these fan out lists on a bi-annual basis.
Did You Know: Updated fan out lists are due by March 20th?
Join our lunchtime sessions to learn more!
Virtual Lunch n’ Learn drop-in sessions will be held at noon on the following dates (each 30 minutes) to provide additional fan out guidance:
If you have questions or would like a calendar invite for one of the virtual sessions noted above please reach out to Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness (ext. 6552 or mesha.richard@tbh.net).
It is an honour to be recognized by our colleagues as valued employees, professional staff, researchers, and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Congratulations on your nomination and thank you for making a positive impact at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award Nominees
Annette Klement Centralized Waitlist Management Project Infant & Neonatal Transport Development Team Renal Department
Patient Experience Award Nominees
Dr. Sam Biggs Hilary A. Douglas Kaitlyn Volbracht Kyle Stroomer Rita Tosolini Sarah A Myllyaho Shelby Zawacki Tony Scopacasa Renal Pharmacy
Research, Innovation, and Learning Award Nominees
Andrea Raynak Dr. Hazem Elmansy Monique Trudeau Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Team Lower Limb Preservation Integrated Pathway NWO Navigate ROSA Robotic Surgical Assistant
Staff Experience Award 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
Sustainable Future Award 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
Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for the 2023 iCare Impact Awards and who voted on our winners!
Award presentations will be taking place on unit between February 20-29, 2024 and winners will be announced corporately during Employee Recognition Week (March 1-8, 2024).
