Shared on behalf of Nicole Moffett, Manager of Emergency Preparedness, Switchboard and Security

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Winter has arrived!

Throughout the winter, our contractor (Thunder Bay Multitrades) will be closing lots at various times to allow for proper snow removal. Please obey all posted signage and park in alternate lots as indicated on the signage.

Please be mindful when parking. Do not block any driving lanes or roadways, and try to line up with existing spots where possible. Do not leave too much room between vehicles as it reduces the number of available parking spots. Please be aware of parking rows to avoid creating a third row, which can block vehicles in. Note that parking enforcement will continue throughout the winter to ensure safety. 

Remember that all staff have access to Lot I (also known as the Turtle Lot) throughout the year. If the lot that you are assigned is full, please park in Lot I.   

We must cooperate to get through the winter season with minimal disruptions and inconvenience. We appreciate your support!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Paul Bishop (Garda World Security site manager) via email or at ext. 6014.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy winter!

Congratulations to Carolyn Leonzio for being drawn as the latest draw prize winner for completing the Employee and Professional Staff Engagement Survey!

Do you want a chance at winning a draw prize? Don’t forget to complete your survey and share your valued feedback. As of November 29, we are closer to our 75% participation goal at 45% completed!

Thank you to everyone for participating.

Shared on behalf of Andrea Raynak – Director, Nursing Practice

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I am pleased to announce that Justin Ross has accepted the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Vascular Access.  

Justin graduated from Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and has spent the majority of his career within the Emergency Department. With over 14 years of acute care and critical care experience, he has demonstrated his ability to prioritize, critically think and to deliver optimal patient care. Justin holds a Canadian Nurses Association Certification in Emergency Nursing and is a Trauma Nursing Core Course Instructor.  

Justin has had the opportunity to be the Practice Coordinator for the Nursing Resource Team, and has been the temporary CNS, Vascular Access for the last 7 months. Within this role he has worked on expanding vascular access care, and has explored innovative opportunities for patients of all ages admitted to our hospital.  

When not at work, Justin enjoys running and spending time with his family. 

Please join me in welcoming Justin to the role.

Shared on behalf of John Ross, Director – Patient Flow & Partnerships

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Please be aware that Katherine Bell, Manager – Infection Prevention and Control has returned and is available for any IPAC related concerns. Please share this with your staff.

I want to thank Hilary McIver for providing interim coverage while Katherine was away. Hilary has returned to her regular Coordinator duties.

Shared on behalf of Andrea Raynak, Director Nursing Practice

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The Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Interprofessional Educators and Nursing Professional Practice Leaders will be facilitating hospital-wide central vascular access device (CVAD) education during the month of December. Below are education opportunities that all clinical staff can join as part of their learning and professional development:

Education Event	Date	Time	Location
Lunch and Learn	December 7, 2023	12:00-12:45	ICP Main, Room 2178
CVAD Skill Session	December 15, 2023	12:00-14:30 (drop in anytime during this time frame)	Ibn Sina Simulation Centre, Room 3100
Roaming Education	Month of December	Intermittent drop ins	All in-patient and out-patient units

Please encourage your staff to participate in these education opportunities!

Please be advised that the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared over on 3B at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center as of Tuesday, November 28, 2023. All restrictions have been lifted.

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

For more information, contact Infection Prevention and Control 807-684-6094

An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on 1A Medical as of Tuesday, November 28, 2023. All restrictions are in place.

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak will require isolation with appropriate additional precautions.

The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.

For more information, contact Infection Prevention and Control at 807-684-6094.

Shared on behalf of Quality and Risk Management

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Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is organizing a 2-day Quality Improvement (QI) training workshop on February 8 and 9, 2024. This workshop is designed to provide the knowledge and tools needed to lead impactful QI initiatives within our organization.

Day 1: Foundations of QI – February 8

The first day of the workshop will focus on the fundamentals of QI. Our goal is to implement a train-the-trainer model and establish performance metrics. We encourage participation from both clinical and non-clinical personnel to participate. By attending, you will gain a strong understanding of key concepts, approaches, and practical tools, enabling you to foster positive change within your respective departments.

Day 2: Refresher Session for QI Trailblazers – February 9

For those who attended the March 2023 training, we have planned a special refresher session on the second day. This session will provide updates on project charters, measures and reporting, project sustainability, and risk identification.

Katherine Campbell (biography here), an expert facilitator with 23 years of leadership experience in the health care industry, specializing in QI and risk management, will once again guide the workshop. Her deep understanding of QI methodologies will ensure that you acquire the necessary tools and knowledge to lead QI initiatives.

We are confident that these workshops will empower you to drive meaningful change and enhance our organization’s commitment to excellence. To secure your spot in either the Foundations of QI or Refresher Session, please fill out the attached form and submit it to the Quality and Risk Management Department at 

TBRHSC.QualityandRiskManagement@tbh.net by Friday, December 15.

Attached below is the memo with the application form included.

More than 120 health care practitioners from across Northwestern Ontario attended the Northern Ontario Women’s Health Conference held November 18-19 in downtown Thunder Bay. This annual conference, organized by the Thunder Bay Obstetrics and Gynecology Local Education Group and NOSM University, brings together remote, rural, and urban primary care providers to network and share information related to women’s health in our region.

This year, Drs. Laura Power and Amber Dudar, who work at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre’s Maternity Centre, spoke about menopause treatments and new options for contraception.

“Coming together as regional partners in health care for events like these really builds the community of best practice and strengthens women’s health care across Northwestern Ontario,” said Dr. Power.

Remember, no referrals are necessary to access care at the Maternity Centre.

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

Enhancing Individualized Stroke Care in the Community – Results of a Community Consultation in Southeastern Ontario

Presenter: Kayla Purdon, BScN, BA, MN- Community and LTC Coordinator, Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario

Date: Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. EST

Host Site: Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario

Virtual Event – no pre-registration required just click on the Microsoft Teams link at the designated time of the event.

Supporting documents for this event are attached below. The presentation handout will be distributed via e-mail if being shared by the presenter.

*** Electronic evaluations are available for all Provincial Stroke Rounds at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/mj6EXqX1Ns.