Objectives

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center/Health Research Institute (TBRHSC/HRI) research seed funding competition aims to support promising health research in order to advance research outcomes and capacity and preferably also facilitate applications for external funding.

Scope

This seed funding competition applies to basic science, clinical research, social inquiry, humanities scholarship, or other health research that addresses patient needs at TBRHSC/HRI and/or in Northwestern Ontario.

Eligibility

Teams of at least two applicants can apply. The principal applicant must be a physician, scientist or staff (frontline or managerial) of TBRHSC/HRI; if she or he has a current academic appointment, it cannot be of higher rank than assistant professor. At least one co-applicant must be a patient or learner at TBRHSC/HRI or a resident of Northwestern Ontario.

Format

The application will consist of a maximum of five pages (single space, 12 Times New Roman font) in WORD software. The structure of the application must include these sections:

• Cover page (with title of application and the names of the applicants with contact information – including email address – of the principal applicant);
• Abstract and lay summary page (no more than 200 words in the Abstract, sectioned thus: Background, Questions/Hypotheses, Methods; and no more than 100 words in the lay summary, unstructured);
• Background (with a referenced literature review and clarification of the need for the proposed research as well as its alignment with the research strategic plan of TBRHSC/HRI);
• Questions/Hypotheses (one or more);
• Method (study design, ethics procedures, data collection [including sampling and more], data analysis, and knowledge translation/exchange);
• Budget (total cash asked for with a maximum of $10,000, and line-by-line budgeting such as for personnel, equipment and other needs such as for external funding application resourcing if relevant, as well as in kind contributions if any).

If the applicants plan to use the results of this research to apply for external funding, an additional section should be added at the end, titled External Funding Plan (including how this research’s expected results may be used in such an application and what resources will be used for this application).

Language used in the application should be respectful and grammatically correct.

Process

The submission shall include the application, the principal applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV) and the co-applicants’ CVs/Biographies attached in an email sent no later than February 23, 2024 by end of day to Dr. C. Mushquash, Vice President Research (VPR) and Chief Scientist at TBRHSC/HRI (chris.mushquash@tbh.net).

Submissions that successfully pass screening for scope, eligibility, format and CVs/Biographies inclusion will be independently rated by two reviewers for background, questions/hypotheses, methods, budget and external funding plan (see evaluation form).

Funding decisions will be communicated with ratings and feedback to the principal applicants by March 22, 2024. Funding will then be provided after processing by TBRHSC/HRI’s Clinical Research Services Department and approval by the VPR. A research report in publishable format should be emailed to the VPR by September 19, 2025.

General queries can be sent to Daniel Horne at daniel.horne@tbh.net.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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Please be advised that the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared over on 1A Oncology at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center as of Thursday January 18, 2024. All restrictions have been lifted.

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

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

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The Emergency Department at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre can be a very busy place. Staff provides all the support and comforts they can. Now, thanks to a Family CARE Grant, they have two new ways to provide that support.

The first is actually a way to support the people who come with patients. Many bring a family member or friend. Essential care providers are part of patient care.

“Patient and Family-Centred Care (PFCC) – that’s what we’re all about here,” said Adrian McKee, a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department. “Essential care providers can give patients things that we as healthcare workers can’t give, like the love of their families.”

Those caregivers can also help with small things such as getting them a drink of water and help with other personal needs.

However, chairs in the Emergency Department used to be hard to find. That meant essential care providers often had to stand. With funding from a Family CARE Grant, the Emergency Department purchased 30 additional chairs – one of for each bedside. Caregivers can now sit down next to patients.

“More chairs means more space for loved ones,” McKee said. “Having a place to sit makes it easier on the care provider. It’s less stressful for them and patients.”

iPad Helpful in Many Different Ways

A Family CARE Grant also funded an iPad to help both patients and essential care providers.

“This tablet is super helpful and can be used in many different ways,” McKee said. “One of my favourite things it can do is allow patients to have video conversations with family members if they don’t have a phone with them.”

That’s just the start. Social workers can use it to help patients find and connect with services. Healthcare providers can use it to show credible information to a patient about their condition and treatment. Music can help calm patients who may be in distress. And although our Hospital has connections to the Multicultural Centre for translation, an app on the iPad can help when in-person translation services aren’t possible.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation’s Family CARE Grant provides funding for frontline employees to fund their own ideas for patient care improvements. In fact, “CARE” stands for “Care Advancements Recommended by Employees.” These grants are funded by donors like you who understand that little things can make a big difference to patient care. Whether it’s seeing a loved one on an iPad while you’re being treated in Emerge or making sure a family member helping you has a place to sit, Family CARE Grants make all the difference.

Learn more including how you can donate to this amazing grant program by visiting: https://www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/familycare

Did you miss the Virtual All Staff Town Hall on January 17? A recording is now available for viewing here.

The informative session featured a patient story told by Amy Halvorsen (Manager of Paediatrics & Paediatric Outpatient), information about the Digital Health Strategic Roadmap by Cindy Fedell (Regional Chief Information Officer, Northwestern Ontario Hospitals, Regional CIO and Informatics), a respiratory illness season update by Anne Purves (Patient Flow Operations Coordinator), information on the revised emergency codes by Crystal Edwards (Director, Women & Children’s and Adult & Forensic
Mental Health Programs) and Mēsha Richard (Emergency Preparedness Lead), and an update on the recent employee engagement survey by Jeannine Verdenik (Vice President, People & Culture).

If you have questions you would like answered, please send them to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net and we will do our best to address them at a future Virtual All Staff Town Hall.

If you’d like to access a recording or presentation from a previous Virtual All Staff Town Hall, visit the archive.

Thank you for your commitment to staying informed and engaged.

Additional information on the Digital Health Strategic Roadmap

The Northwestern Ontario Regional Science Fair‘s mission is to promote scientific inquiry and support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in Northwestern Ontario. The NWORSF team is comprised of several employees and trainees from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute who have a passion for science and health research. They work closely with schools and teachers to support the development of the next generation of scientific talent.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers with regular screening, follow-up of abnormal results, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. However, recent data shows that almost half of eligible individuals in Northwestern Ontario are not up-to-date with their cervical screening.

Anyone with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 69, who has ever been sexually active, should complete a cervical screening Pap test every three years. Screening is for people who have no symptoms and generally feel fine.

“For Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, we want to remind you that regular cervical screening is important because it can find early changes that could lead to cervical cancer and treating these changes can prevent cervical cancer from developing,” says Allison Porter, RN, Ambulatory Care, Colposcopy Clinic.

For more information about cervical screening, check out www.cancercareontario.ca/ccaw.

Shared on behalf of the Behavioral Sciences Centre

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As we embrace this new year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and thanks for entrusting Behavioural Sciences Centre (BSC) with your EFAP and Wellness needs in 2023. Our gradual return to “normalcy” in the wake of the pandemic, among other stressors in the world, have caused many ups and downs for most people. The team at BSC is honoured and humbled by the countless individuals we meet, the resilience demonstrated and the amazing work we get to do together.

Some key insights from 2023 to share with you!

• BSC booked 3,447 counselling appointments over the year, which represents 964 unique clients. This is an increase of 27% compared with the previous year.
• Wait times in the EAP for intake are 6-12 business days, with same day appointments available in urgent scenarios.
• Twenty-six people in the Northwest accessed consultative psychiatry services through the EFAP within 8 weeks. Currently well below the wait time for this service in the community. This is a new and innovative partnership that is already adding value for EFAP clients. 
• Across all EAP’s we see a strong emphasis on In-Person Services.  Currently we see 76% of clients in-person compared with 19% by phone and 5% virtual. Some potential reasons for this:
  • People are craving in person connection;
  • The ritual of driving to an appointment helps a person prepare for their session, and driving home/back to work after the appointment gives them time to adjust and reflect on their therapy session.
• Over the last 3 years, we have noticed an increase in the complexity of concerns presenting in the EFAP. Top concerns for people in our region include:
  • Family & Relationship – 28% (often require a longer session – 1.5hrs)
  • Anxiety 18% and Stress 13%
  • Trauma – we see more and more clients accessing CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing). Both of which are trauma therapies. These sessions are typically 1.5 hrs and the course of treatment is longer in duration.

Growing Talent in the North: BSCIP – Behavioural Sciences Centre Internship Program
In our commitment to support the growth of talent within the Northwest region, BSC has successfully hosted six social Work, or Counselling Psychology Interns within BSC. Through the BSCIP we are able to provide complimentary support services within the EFAP, like system  navigation and advocacy for clients.

Compliment Vs Duplicate
Finally, our goal for our EFAP services in 2024 is to focus on complimenting versus duplicating what is available. There are a variety of resources available to support ones wellbeing (ex. Wellness Together Canada, free community based services and coverage through extended health benefits). Our team is focused on helping individuals look at all of the supports within their reach and strategically use services that best meet their current needs. We are committed to continual improvement to ensure BSC services meet the needs of our clients.

Wishing you a gentle year to come,
The BSC Team

Together with Wellness Together Canada, will run MindWell for Healthcare Workers again, starting Monday, February 12.   With this training you will be able to deepen your ability to:  -Stay calm amidst chaos -Feel confident and capable -Build resilience and well-being  Restarting your MindWell for Healthcare Workers training will allow you to: – Go through the weekly training modules again – Attend Live Sessions with your peers in the healthcare industry – Continue to improve your ability to handle stress, improve your well-being and overall perform better at work and beyond  The training starts again Monday, February 12th.  Reset your training modules today to join your colleagues and peers. Registration is free!

The stigma around substance use and addictions creates barriers that affect a person’s health and quality of life.

Have you or a loved one experienced stigma because of substance use or addiction?

The Substance Use and Addictions Education and Training Working Group wants to share your story through video, in hopes of promoting awareness and breaking the stigma around substance use and addictions.

If you are interested in participating, please email tbrhsc.substanceuseandaddictions@tbh.net by January 26, 2024 with your name, contact information and a few sentences about your story.

The TBRHSC Maintenance Department will be conducting the 2-part annual electrical breaker maintenance switching on the evenings of: (1) TUESDAY JANUARY 9, 2024, and (2) TUESDAY JANUARY 23, 2024, from approximately 23:00 to 02:00 on each night.

All work associated with this maintenance effort is conducted in the 4th floor (penthouse level) of TBRHSC. During these times, there will be an electrical power supply disruption (either momentary or about 10-15 minutes) at various locations throughout all 4 levels of blocks B1 & B2 and C1 & C2 of the hospital. There are 4 main power feeds (2 normal & 2 emergency) and this maintenance will effect 2 of these feeds (1 normal & 1 emergency) so not all of the electrical loads within the shown (below) areas will be impacted by this maintenance.

Maintenance Employees will be on site during these time periods to deal with any unforeseen issues, if any should arise. If related problems are encountered during either of these events, please contact: JAMES ARRIL, Coordinator – Electrical, Control & Systems at CELL PHONE # 1-807-620-6925.

Should you have any questions in advance of this planned maintenance, please contact James Arril, per the contact information listed below. Thank you for your cooperation during this important & required maintenance event.