Shared on behalf of Crystal Edwards, Code Amber Executive Sponsor

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

Please be advised that the COVID outbreak has been declared over at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center 1A medical unit as of Thursday December 07, 2023. All restrictions have been lifted.

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

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

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 December 6th Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting covered the coordination and support for frequent users of our services and was presented by Chad Johnson, Director, Trauma and Pre-hospital, Emergency, Critical Care, Respiratory Services, and NLOT and David McConnell, Director, Regional Cancer Care Northwest and Prevention & Screening.

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

Shared on behalf of Kristin Shields, Director, Quality and Risk Management

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I am pleased to announce the appointment of Hemalatha Vijayakumar as Risk Management Specialist. Hema will begin her new position with Quality and Risk Management on Monday, December 11, 2023.

With an educational background in information technology, Hema brings to our organization extensive experience, having supported risk management in a number of sectors. Hema conducted comprehensive risk assessments and developed risk mitigation strategies while working as a Project Management Officer supporting Nestle; managed and monitored the automation of a number of banks and audit firms (including PwC and Deloitte); and worked as a security analyst for First Gulf Bank and Bank of New York. Most recently, Hema has worked as Process Improvement Consultant with St. Joseph’s Care Group.

In this Risk Management Specialist position, Hema will be responsible for implementing TBRHSC’s Integrated Risk Management Framework and leading related work that supports risk assessment, monitoring, analysis and reporting. This includes facilitating and coordinating risk management strategies that support the organization’s Strategic Plan and the overall Quality Framework of the Hospital. As a member of the Quality and Risk Management Team, Hema will ensure risk activities are aligned to support the safest patient care, and process and quality improvement initiatives.

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Hema. She can be reached at extension 6434.

Mark the dates in your calendar, the Health Research Speaker Series has returned! Meet some of the best and brightest in our research community by joining us for these virtual presentations via Webex.

For how to submit a maintenance work order please see below:

Tuition reimbursement is available to all permanent Hospital employees. Please see the poster below and the Human Resources intranet page for more details.

(via Tbnewswatch.com)

A new infant warmer is coming to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s neonatal intensive care unit thanks to Giving Tuesday donations.

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Newborns at the hospital needing extra medical care will have new equipment available to them courtesy of donations made on Giving Tuesday. 

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will be purchasing a new NICU Giraffe Infant Warmer after a fundraising goal of $50,000 was met last week, thanks to many generous donors. This included the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation providing $10,000 from its Giving Tuesday Goal to help the fundraiser meet its target. 

Marta Nesti, is a registered nurse in the neonatal unit at the regional hospital, said updated equipment is vital in providing care. 

“The infant warmer keeps the baby warm while we’re able to do some procedures like x-rays, examinations, intubations, lumbar punctures. It keeps the baby warm [and is a] really key component of it,” Nesti said.

She indicated that the new warmer will have a resuscitation panel built into it, which will allow staff to easily see and assess a baby’s vital signs as well as provide portability by being attached directly to the machine instead of being mounted on the wall. 

“The technology we have in these newer warmers is critical to saving the lives of preemies and infants, especially during their first hour of life,” said Nesti.

The new machine will also feature clear sides for ease of physical and visual access for medical staff and families. The warmer is height adjustable for when a baby undergoing medical treatments or for when a birth parent is spending time with them at their bedside. 

“It is so important for the NICU to have the right equipment for the short and long-term health of the child,” Nesti added. 

The new infant warmer will be replacing an older version, which will reach its end of life by 2025. The hospital aims to replace critical equipment every 10 years. 

Shared on behalf of Quality and Risk Management

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In order to reduce the risk of inappropriate access to and use of prescription pads within Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), please be advised of the following changes to the format, storage, and ordering of prescription pads, which will take effect on November 27, 2023.

Please note, these changes are interim measures to help mitigate the risk until we move toward full electronic prescribing with Meditech Expanse.

1. Actions Required in Advance

Managers/Designates:

• Distribute this memo to all applicable staff to ensure they are aware of the upcoming changes;
• As of today, please ensure all current prescription pads are stored in one designated location in your department (with the exception of larger departments and specialized areas who may require more than one location);
• November 27, 2023 – Please bring all old prescription pads (white, single copy) to the Print Shop to be destroyed securely. During this time, you will be issued the new prescription pads (yellow, single copy, each prescription sheet numbered);
• November 28, 2023 – All old prescription pads (white, single copy) will no longer be valid for use at TBRHSC;
• Please see below under “New Format” for exceptions.*

Medical Affairs:

• Distribute this memo to all applicable staff. Please note, TBRHSC prescription pads are for hospital-use only and are not to be used in private clinics.

TBRHSC Pharmacy Leadership:

• Distribute this memo to all applicable staff. Issue separate memo to Community Pharmacy Partners, to ensure they are aware of the upcoming changes in process and format for TBRHSC prescription pads.

2. Key Changes in Process

New Format (see page 3):

• Prescription pads will be printed on coloured paper (yellow);
• Each prescription pad sheet will be numbered sequentially to allow for tracking;
• Text changes:

Previous	New
CPSO #	CPSO or Registration #
Signature of Physician	Signature of Prescriber
Printed Name of Physician	Printed Name of Prescriber

• Exceptions – There will be no change to the format of the current prescription pads within the following areas and documents (see pages 4, 5, and 6 of memo)
  • Adult Mental Health (AMH), Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT), Medical Transitions Clinic (MTC), and Renal Department [prescription pads are white with a duplicate/coloured carbon copy; no numbering system];
  • All digital order sets within TBRHSC.

Storage & Location:

• Prescription pads will be stored in one designated location in all applicable TBRHSC departments, including the Print Shop (with the exception of larger departments and specialized areas who may require more than one location).

Ordering & Pick-Up:

• The new prescription pad process will mimic our current taxi voucher process;
• Ordering and pick-up of prescription pads will be restricted to Managers/Designates who will place orders via email to the Print Shop;
• Print Shop will keep a tracking record of prescription pad orders and pick-ups

(with the exception of departments above who order prescription pads off-site);

• Departments to notify the Print Shop if they require a monthly top-up.

Evaluation:

• A short survey will be sent out to all key stakeholders prior to and following the implementation of the new prescription pad process.

We appreciate your assistance as we move toward a more secure process to reduce the risk of prescription pad diversion. For any questions regarding these changes, please contact your Manager.

Please see memo attached below for further details including examples.

Happy International Volunteer Day!

2023 Theme – The Power of Collective Action: If Everyone Did

This year, we mark International Volunteer Day (IVD) by recognizing the power of collective action: if everyone did.

If everyone volunteered, the world would be a better place. Imagine more than eight billion of us volunteering. Limitless possibilities for sustainable development – food and education for everyone, clean environment and good health, inclusive and peaceful societies, and more.

Volunteerism is an enormous renewable resource for social, economic and environmental problem-solving throughout the world. As the world faces mounting challenges, volunteers are often the first to help. Volunteers are at the fore in crises and emergencies, often in very testing and dire situations.

Join us in recognizing volunteers all over the world and right here in our Hospital community.