The Centre for Applied Health Research at St. Joseph’s Care Group is pleased to host the 2024 Showcase of Health Research on February 9, 2024. The Showcase has become the premier annual venue for the dissemination of research relevant to the health of Northwestern Ontarians and features oral and poster presentations by health professionals, students, and scientists.
We cordially invite you to participate in this event by submitting an abstract. We are interested in paper and poster presentations of health research ranging from prevention to service delivery and from basic to applied research. Please see the attached document for further details. The deadline for submission is November 17, 2023.
If you are aware of other individuals who may not have received this information and may be interested in submitting an abstract, please forward this email to them. We look forward to your participation in the 2024 Showcase of Health Research!
From October 8 to 14, 2023 we recognize Fire Prevention Week™. This year’s theme is “Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention™” Let’s work together to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe when cooking.
Cook with Caution
Watch what you heat. Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
Have a “kid- and pet-free zone” of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried.
This week is also an opportunity to share information about the importance of smoke alarms, extinguishers, and escape plans, as well as share fire safety tips such as:
Develop escape plans that take everyone’s abilities into consideration and practice them regularly with everyone who lives in the home.
Install smoke alarms inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home.
Keep fire extinguishers in kitchens, basements, and garages, and know how to use them.
Close doors at night to help slow the spread of fire and smoke.
Use the following National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire safety webpages to support your personal emergency planning:
What if someone in my home is deaf or hard of hearing, or has a disability? You can get more information on evacuation and emergency planning for people with disabilities here: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education
What if we have household pets? Just as humans prepare, it’s important to have pets ready to escape in an emergency. You can get information on how to include pets in your family’s evacuation plan here: https://www.nfpa.org/PublicEducation
VisitThunder Bay Fire Rescue’s website for great fire safety planning resources, as well as information on fire and fireworks permits, fire code questions, and how to schedule a fire hall tour!
Have questions or feedback? Contact Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness at mesha.richard@tbh.net
Dr. Christopher Mushquash is being honoured for his work in Indigenous-led mental health and substance use research. He is the recipient of the 2023 Canada Gairdner Momentum Award.
Dr. Mushquash is Vice President of Research at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), Chief Scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI), a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction, Professor at Lakehead University and NOSM University, and psychologist at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.
Week one of Healthy Workplace Month has come and gone. If you didn’t get a chance to attend any of the events, please consider watching the recordings linked below.
Practice Being BRITE –Through Self Regulation
Screen Time & Eye Health
Interested and would like to know more? There are events scheduled every week for the month of October and there are prize draws. See poster for event details or scan the QR code off any of the posters located throughout the hospital.
If you click on a link or open an attachment from a suspicious email, malware can be downloaded onto your computer. Malware is “malicious software” that can control your computer and access to all your personal data and/or all sensitive data within the organization you work for.
Social Engineering Threats
The threat is disguised as a member of your organization or one you know.
They will use an email address that is almost identical to the organizations email.
The intention of the email is to gain information or access information systems. The threat is looking for confidential information such as passwords, login credentials and personal information. They do this by fear tactics like intimidation, coercion, urgency or even befriending.
In detecting these attacks, your critical thinking and knowledge of organizational norms are crucial. They can help you determine if the communication is legitimate or a potential attack.
For example:
Has the communication gone through correct distribution channels and copy appropriate individuals?
Has the communication come directly from a senior leader? Is this unusual?
Is the communication from a third party urgently requesting you provide information through an online form or pay something immediately?
Does the communication request you send files to a personal email?
If a cyber criminal hacks your account, contact the Help Desk to let them know.
Do you have a cyber security question for IT – send it to help.desk@tbh.net and we will publish your questions and answers in early November.
Tbaytel is introducing 10 digit dialing in November!
All local calls will require 807 in front of the seven digit local number. Informatics is reminding staff to update all communications to include the area code.
Some items you should review are:
Alerting/Paging Systems: example fridge temperature sensor
Appointment Callout Programs
Email Forwarding to SMS Service
Email Signatures
Preprinted Forms
Preprogrammed Fax Numbers
Policies and Procedures
Verbal Telephone Scripts
Example:
Local calling: IT help desk will be 807-684-6411
Long distance: Dryden Hospital would still be 1-807-223-8200
You can start making these changes immediately. All changes are required to be completed by November 15, 2023.
Please share with staff, and email Help.Desk@tbh.net if you have any questions or concerns.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) presents “Ask An Expert”, a series where team members from our Bariatric Centre of Excellence answer questions they commonly encounter. For more information on our Regional Bariatric Care Centre, please visit bit.ly/TBRHSC-RBCC. This month’s question is answered by Olivia Zanette, Registered Dietician, Regional Bariatric Care Centre at TBRHSC.
What is bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery is the surgical treatment of obesity and weight-related health concerns through safe weight loss and management as well as support with maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. Bariatric surgeries can cause either some reduction in the amount of food you are able to eat comfortably or a reduction in the absorption of calories from the food you eat, or both. While these surgeries can have major impacts on a person’s weight and other health-related factors and quality of life, continued success and improvements in overall health and wellness still depend on maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours.
The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.
No referrals are necessary to access care at the Maternity Centre.
During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.
This week’s Maternity Centre Monday post welcomes the 109 babies born at TBRHSC during the month of September. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!
Members of TBRHSC’s leadership team, along with staff and physicians from the Intensive Care Unit, Operating Room and TGLN (Ontario Health) gather in the Hospital’s Garden of Life to accept the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award.
Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]) has presented Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) with an achievement award for its dedication to open communication about organ and tissue donation.
TBRHSC has been honoured with the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award, an award presented to hospitals who exceeded TGLN’s target of 90 per cent in having organ and tissue donation discussions with eligible patients and families. This is the first year TBRHSC has received this award, reaching an eligible approach rate of 97 percent.
“Our team approaches the conversation about organ and tissue donation with care and compassion. These are difficult discussions, and we want every patient and family to have the information they need and the opportunity to make a life-saving choice,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “This award underscores our ongoing dedication and commitment to the organ and tissue donation process.”
Ontario Health (TGLN)’s mission is to save and enhance more lives through the gift of organ and tissue donation in Ontario. In 2022/2023, out of 320 organ donors across the province, TBRHSC supported four, which led to 14 organs donated for transplant and saved 13 lives.
“Thirteen lives saved last year – this is why we do what we do, and why the collaboration between TBRHSC and TGLN is essential,” stated Kiley Perrier, Trillium Gift of Life Network’s Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinator at TBRHSC. “By registering your consent, you are making the caring and selfless decision to try and help save lives after your death through organ and tissue donation.”
Northern Ontario communities are among the leaders in the province in the number of registrants per capita. Thunder Bay has 53 per cent of its eligible population registered as organ donors, ranking the city in 38th provincially out of 170 communities.
There are more than 1,200 people in Ontario waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. For more information on organ and tissue donation in Ontario, or to register your consent for organ and tissue donation at www.BeADonor.ca. Remember to talk to your family about your wishes.
