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Jerry Pilon from Manitouwadge was the lucky winner of the August “Dog Days of Summer” Thunder Bay 50/50 grand prize draw, winning a whopping $836,560!

Jerry was driving from Thunder Bay to Manitouwadge when he got the call about his win and jokingly considered turning back from Marathon after this great news. “My very first priority will be to pay off all my debt and set up for my retirement, which will be a lot sooner now,” he says.

To date, over $25 Million in prizes has been awarded to winners from across Ontario. In turn, millions of dollars of vital equipment has been purchased for the Hospital, including like a new Xray C-arm for the best image quality and lowest radiation dose for patients during surgeries.

“A huge thank you to all who sent in photos of their dogs (and cats) for our fun Dog Days August draw. Overall, we received about 1,400 photos,” says Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “We are truly grateful for our 50/50 supporters because their support is helping us to Do More Faster for better local healthcare, now.”

September Draw Now Open

September’s draw will feature $30,000 in Early Bird draws with the biggest one for $10,000 to be drawn on September 1st!

The September grand prize jackpot will be drawn Friday, September 29, 2023. Tickets* are now available online at www.thunderbay5050.ca and in-person at the Northwest Store in the Intercity Shopping Centre. Ticket packages are as follows: $10 for 5 numbers

• $20 for 30 numbers
• $50 for 150 numbers
• $75 for 300 numbers

* Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, September 28, 2023 to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on Friday, September 29, at 11:00 a.m.

Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca. Ticket purchasers must be present in Ontario to purchase and 18 years old or older. The Thunder Bay 50/50 continues each month with the Grand Prize drawn on the last Friday of the month. (2023 Lottery Licence RAF1285982)

via NOSM U

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An ongoing initiative led by NOSM University’s Centre for Social Accountability (CFSA) with the Northwestern Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) is working to fill a major health human resources gap.

The OHT Impact Fellowship Program matches Ontario Health Teams with researchers who conduct data analysis. But when the first cohort of the program failed to match researchers with Northwestern OHTs, it became clear that a different approach was needed to meet the unique needs of our region.

The solution? A teams-based approach to an existing Impact Fellowship. Proposed by the CFSA’s Drs. Erin Cameron, Academic Director, and Brianne Wood, Associate Scientist, along with health-care partners throughout Northwestern Ontario, the initiative was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health through the University of Toronto as part of a central program of supports for OHTs.

“By aligning the skills of NOSM University team members with local and regional needs, this approach nurtures relationships that extend beyond the one-year fellowship and integrates with ongoing projects led by Centre for Social Accountability scholars,” says Dr. Cameron.

The team created a data framework for health-care systems in Northwestern Ontario and has recently expanded to work with all Northern Ontario OHTs. The framework informs how data is used to improve the coordination and integration of health care in order to impact health at a population level. The goal is to support people who need to be knowledgeable about the health system as a whole—such as decision-makers, policymakers, and clinicians—with research.

“The data framework can be used to advance a regional health strategy. Our collaboration has the potential to identify needs within our health system and lead its transformation,” says Dr. Cameron.

The work builds on existing partnerships between NOSM University, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, All Nations Health Partners OHT, Rainy River District OHT, the Northwestern Ontario Integrated Care Working Group, and the Rapid Improvement Support Exchange.

“Working with the NOSM University team on the OHT Impact Fellowship has been a true example of social accountability in action,” says Jessica Logozzo, Vice President, Strategy & Regional Transformation at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (working on behalf of the 12 hospitals in Northwestern Ontario). “The NOSM University team stepped in with an innovative, embedded team-based approach. By working directly with two OHTs on the issues that they self-identified, NOSM University’s team was able to co-produce research, evidence, and analytics that were most relevant to the OHT and partners—including data analytics for quality improvement plans. This partnership enabled meaningful research for our region that will enhance our collective efforts towards improvements in population health and system transformation.”

Shared on behalf of Andrea Raynak, Director, Nursing Practice

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The Professional Practice Department and the Clinical Nurse Specialists are looking to gather some information from the nursing staff on current resource use and information to guide our future directions.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZY2LCMV

Your feedback is very important and we appreciate your participation.

Your Impact: New “Real-time” X-ray Unit Provides Faster, Safer Surgeries with Proceeds from the Thunder Bay 50/50

Thanks to the Thunder Bay 50/50 draws, surgeons will receive a new X-ray machine for the operating rooms that will make surgeries faster and safer for patients.

X-rays have come a long way since Craig Willson, now a manager in the Diagnostic Imaging Department, started as a medical radiation technologist (MRT) at McKellar Hospital in the mid-1980s. Even back then, it was common for surgeons to ask for an X-ray part way through a procedure to ensure all was going well.

“It was a static image – one X-ray and then the time to develop it. If they needed another image, we had to take it and then develop that one, too. It was time consuming and made the OR time longer,” Willson said.

Not only did this slow down the surgery, it meant the patient had to be under anaesthetic longer.

Once digital X-rays came along though, everything changed. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre purchased four C-arm X-ray units when the Hospital first opened in 2004. As the name suggests, these portable machines allow the X-ray to swing along an arc (the arm in the shape of a “C”) to help position the unit. They provide digital X-rays from any angle to help guide the surgeon in real time.

Today though, delays during surgery are for a completely different reason: the C-arms are past their end of life and need servicing often. If one breaks down during an operation, MRTs need to rush around to find another. Willson said that the four oldest C-arms need to be replaced in the next couple years before they break down for good.

“We want to ensure that the uptime is as close to 100 per cent as possible,” Willson said. “Patients shouldn’t have to wait because the C-arm failed. That means patients stay under anaesthetic longer, and we don’t want that.”

“So many more surgeries use guided imaging today,” said Ron Garon, Manager Perioperative Services at our Hospital. Those include trauma, orthopaedic, neurosurgery, urology, and vascular.

Spinal surgery is a great example of how vital C-arms are during operations. When surgeons insert screws during spinal fusions, there is little room for error.

“If a screw is inserted even a few millimetres off of the intended target, the consequences can be significant. Under direct vision, these complications are significantly reduced, so it’s safer for our patients. The C-arm provides this direct vision,” Garon said.

The new C-arm will also be a huge advance in technology. The system features a digital detector for crisper, cleaner images. It processes those images for archiving faster, which it must do before being used for the next surgery. (Due to the age of the current C-arm, this could take hours instead of minutes.) Further, the X-rays use a much lower dose of radiation, improving safety for both patients and healthcare staff in the room.

“Not only can surgeons see exactly where they are directly in real time, but those images are compatible with our Navigation systems, which can create a 3D image of the area,” Garon said.

There’s still time to buy your Thunder Bay 50/50 tickets for the August draw! Proceeds go directly towards purchasing equipment like this new and upgraded C-arm X-ray unit for our operating rooms. You can check out this month’s current jackpot and buy your tickets online at: thunderbay5050.ca

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For children in the Paediatrics Unit (1B), our Hospital can be a scary place. But thanks to several Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation Family Care Grants, the Hospital is a little less frightening. A new kid-sized wheelchair, two different vein finders, and new waterless bottle warmers will help improve comfort and safety for our smallest patients.

Amy Halvorsen, Manager of Paediatrics & Paediatric Outpatient at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, is most excited about the vein finders. Not everyone has easy-to-find veins, and sometimes that leads to inserting the needle two or more times to find the vein. That can be especially traumatizing for young children and infants who don’t know what’s happening.

“I come from NICU, and we use them all the time,” Halvorsen said. “They’re really quite amazing.”

The Paediatric Unit now has two different vein finders: one for infants and one for small children. The infant model shines an LED light through the hand, illuminating exactly where the veins are. However, it only shines through very small hands. A second larger type – too large to use for infants – illuminates the veins from above. Both help finding the vein easier so it’s less painful.

“First poke is the best poke,” Halvorsen said. “We don’t want to have to try more than once on a baby or a child. Anything we can use to make that first attempt successful will make all the difference.”

The new wheelchair will help make transporting children around the Hospital more comfortable for the children – and more convenient for parents and staff.

“If they’re here for fractures and they need to go for X-rays or even if the parents want to take them outside in the summertime for some fresh air, it’s helpful to have a wheelchair that fits the patient,” Halvorsen said. Sometimes, children may have difficulty sitting up. Larger chairs make it even harder for them. “In a big chair, it’s hard to keep them steady and upright. That’s why it’s so important to have the proper size.”

The kid-size wheelchair also makes getting in and out of the chair safer. Plus, they have seatbelts and other safety features that adult chairs sometimes do not have.

Special waterless bottle warmers also increase safety for infants in 1B.

“Previously, we had to warm bottles in a sleeve of hot water,” Halvorsen said. “This made it harder to warm the milk to the ideal temperature every time. There’s a greater risk of the milk becoming too hot.”

This method also raises the risk of infection through contaminants in the water used for warming – and babies who are sick in 1B are already at higher risk of new infections. “You want to keep tap water separate from the milk so it’s sterile and clean.”

The new bottle warmers bring the milk to the ideal temperature without risk of water contamination or hotspots. Plus, it reduces much of the waste including the plastic sleeves used.

All three types of items were purchased thanks to your donations to the Family CARE Grant program. These are excellent examples of how smaller purchases can go a long way towards improving patient care. With your help, we can fund more projects like these! Please donate online at https://www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donate or call our Donation Centre at (807) 345-4673. Thank you!

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Volunteering is the act of performing purposeful helping activities without the expectation of money in return. It aims to provide service to individuals or the community in order to create a positive impact. Volunteering includes a variety of opportunities, catering to various interests and passions from educational initiatives that ignite minds, to active participation that strengthens communities. Beyond the joy of providing a service, volunteering also includes health and well-being benefits.

Currently, there are 167 active volunteers in the Volunteer Services department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and the program continues to grow. Volunteers provide administrative and clinical support, greet patients and families, and assist with patient care across various departments including Wayfinding and Information, Hospital Elder Life Program, Cancer Centre, Adult Mental Health, Endoscopy, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Surgical Day Care and more.

Volunteering is a powerful act that not only benefits the recipients of the service, but also enriches the lives of the volunteers themselves. According to a number of research studies, volunteering can have a positive impact on mental well-being and can help reduce depression and stress. By dedicating your time to helping others, you may be able to unlock a sense of purpose and accomplishment that boosts self-confidence and nurtures a positive self-image. Furthermore, the connections formed while volunteering foster empathy, compassion, and a deep sense of belonging, adding an extra layer of fulfillment to your life. It’s an activity that can help to uplift spirits, and enhance emotional well-being and mental health.

Not only does volunteer work warm the heart, it also fuels the body with a multitude of physical health benefits. By actively participating in volunteer activities, you can embark on a rewarding journey that encourages physical activity and movement. Whether it’s engaging in community projects, organizing events, or lending a helping hand, volunteering will often keep you on your toes and help to promote an active lifestyle. This increased physical activity helps to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.

Many volunteers at our Hospital have found the experience of doing for others rewarding. From helping seniors in our community during their stay, to connecting with patients if they are lonely or advocating on a patient’s behalf, individuals who engage in volunteer work have the opportunity to warm their hearts, nourish their minds, and invigorate their bodies, creating a potential positive ripple effect that extends beyond the act of service itself.  

Prevention and Screening Clinical Services at TBRHSC recently hosted a virtual Healthy Get-Together on the topic of volunteering. Staff from Volunteer Services and current volunteers at TBRHSC shared their experiences about the benefits and information about the various volunteer opportunities within the Hospital.

The Healthy Get-Together provides information about chronic disease prevention strategies and healthy living in a fun and engaging way. These sessions are held bi-monthly and feature guest speakers from our Hospital staff or community experts. To view this and other past Healthy Get-Together sessions, visit tbrhsc.net/healthy-get-together-links.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at our Hospital, visit tbrhsc.net/join-our-team/become-volunteer/.

Lakehead University’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health (CERAH) is hosting the Northwestern Ontario Palliative Care Conference 2023 – “Navigating the Journey Together: Caring for Ourselves & Others.”

This is CERAH’s first in-person conference event since 2019 and will take place October 3-5 at the Nor’Wester Hotel in Thunder Bay. This is a wonderful opportunity for health and social care providers, researchers, students, administrators, palliative care volunteers, and others, to come together as a community to connect and support each other while learning valuable tools and skills grounded in best practice.

In addition to recognized regional champions in palliative care, such as Holly Prince and Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller, we are thrilled to have several highly-esteemed presenters coming to Thunder Bay for this event, including Dr. Hsien Seow and Dr. Samantha Winemaker, creators of the Waiting Room Revolution podcast and co-authors of the soon-to-be released book: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest: 7 Keys for Navigating a Life-Limiting Diagnosis (all registrants will receive a copy and have the opportunity to have it signed by the authors!). Dr. Kathryn Mannix from the UK will also provide an exclusive keynote presentation on the first day of the conference.

Please see the attached poster and the conference event page for more information.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 22, 2023.

Please also share this information with your colleagues and contacts.

Complete your Wake the Giant training module by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 8 for a chance to win two tickets to the Wake the Giant Music Festival on September 16.

Wake the Giant is a cultural awareness project aimed at creating a more welcoming and inclusive city for Indigenous Peoples, youth, and their communities. The project includes an annual music festival that welcomes students to Thunder Bay at the start of the school year in September, as well as a decal program in which organizations and businesses display a Wake the Giant decal to indicate that they are a welcoming and safe space for Indigenous youth.

The Wake the Giant Indigenous Culture and Inclusivity Training was launched earlier this year, providing an online learning experience to support businesses, companies and organizations in creating more inclusive spaces, free of racism, where Indigenous People are welcome. This training is intended to present the realities of First Nations students having to leave their home community to attend high school in Thunder Bay and was developed in direct response to the recommendations in the Seven Youth Inquest.

The training module is available through Dual Code LMS.

There will be two draws with a total of four tickets to be won. Draw will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 8.

All staff who have completed the training module will be included in the draw, including staff who were entered in the previous draw in June.

The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism and the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat honoured nine volunteers from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) in a ceremony on August 21st, 2023 at Fort William Historical Park.

The Ontario Volunteer Service Award recognizes volunteers for providing committed and dedicated service to an organization. Adults are recognized by the length of time they’ve volunteered with one organization, ranging from five to 65 years of continuous service. Youth (24 years old and under) are recognized for two or more years of continuous service.
Recognized during the ceremony were three youth volunteers, Paniz Bashari, Lahama Naeem, and Kieran Cross, and six adult volunteers, Loretta Brassard (40 years), Carole McCollum (20 years), Kim Montanaro (25 years), Marilyn Parker (20 years), Barb Rickards (25 years), and Judy Surkan (25 years).

This is truly a great honour for each of these volunteers and for our Hospital. Their outstanding commitment and service to patients and families is exemplary.

Congratulations!

The iCare Impact Awards is a peer-to peer recognition event, aimed at highlighting initiatives within the organization that support our mission, vision, and values. Rather than focusing on individuals, the iCare Impact Awards recognizes outcomes and impacts, and the people or teams who made those outcomes possible. When placing a nomination, keep the impact as front-of-mind, looking through the lens of our strategic vision; exceptional care for every patient, every time.

The winner of the 2022 Strategy Award is the Emergency Department Violence Prevention Task Force. This staff-led committee engages with the Emergency Department staff to integrate feedback and ideas into workplace violence improvement initiatives and executes change initiatives on the front line.

The iCare Impact Awards program is open to all employees, professional staff, and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

Nominations can submitted for this year’s iCare Impact Awards here: https://icare-awards.tbrhsc.net/. Gift cards are raffled monthly for those who submit nominations on behalf of their colleagues.

Please see the information sheet linked below or contact Madeline Reinikka, Employee Engagement Consultant, at extension 6221 for more information.