A reminder that you are invited to attend a virtual session on Code Orange on Wednesday, June 14th or Monday, June 19th. Note that the virtual sessions are open to everyone and will provide an opportunity to better understand recent changes to the Code Orange policy. For more info please refer to the Code Orange Policy Update memo here.

If you have any questions or would like a calendar invite for the session, please reach out to Mesha Richard (Lead, Emergency Preparedness). You can also join without a calendar invite by using the following links:

Wednesday, June 14 at 11:30 a.m. https://thunderbayhospitals.webex.com/thunderbayhospitals/j.php?MTID=m333343df9f2319fc656d0c3a502843d9

Monday, June 19 at 11:30 a.m. https://thunderbayhospitals.webex.com/thunderbayhospitals/j.php?MTID=m8b12929539772c12e41ba40d2fd8278a

---

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), a 375- bed academic specialized acute care facility, is a national leader in Patient and Family Centred Care. As the only tertiary care provider in Northwestern Ontario, we provide comprehensive services to a population of over 250,000 residents in a region the size of France. Effectively addressing the health care needs of patients and families has earned us both Innovation Awards and Leading Practice Designations. As an academic health sciences centre, we teach the next generation of health care providers and advance medical research. Patients benefit from interprofessional teams of dedicated health care providers and access to leading-edge medical technology and clinical trials.

We are looking to grow our team in Cardiac Diagnostics through the recruitment of Registered Cardiology Technologists (RCT) to perform non-invasive cardiac diagnostic testing such as Electrocardiograms, Exercise Stress Testing, Holter Monitoring as well as cardiac device monitoring and programming.

TBRHSC is offering $10,000 recruitment incentive bursaries to RCT graduates from an accredited Canadian RCT program in 2023/24. These bursaries would be accompanied by a three (3) year return of service agreement for full-time employment as an RCT at TBRHSC.

For more details please contact Kyle Baysarowich, Manager of Cardiac Diagnostics & Cardiac Rehabilitation, via email at Kyle.Baysarowich@tbh.net.

For the 14^th year in a row, frontline staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre applied for grants for the ‘little things’ that can make a significant difference to patient care. The ideas for patient care improvements come directly from the staff on the frontlines of healthcare; the Family CARE Grant helps bring their ideas to life.

Thanks to funding provided by donors to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, this year $74,773.50 was provided to fund 46 Family CARE (Care Advancements Recommended by Employees) Grants.

Barry Streib, Director, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation and Chair of the selection committee said, “We are excited to be funding these 46 different projects, which will be improving care for patients across the spectrum of the Hospital. We thank the frontline staff for their insights. It is truly a pleasure knowing that the grants which were funded will greatly benefit patients and families using our facility.”

Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President & CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, praised employees for submitting ideas and funding applications to enhance patients’ and their families’ experiences. “This program is an example of patient centred care in action. These grants support our physicians, staff and volunteers to better respond to the needs, values and preferences of our patients and their families. Their insights and commitment to continually improving our care helps us to achieve our Vision of ‘Exceptional care for every patient, every time’,” said Crocker Ellacott.

The 2022-23 Family CARE grants will fund the purchase of equipment that will benefit patients across the Health Sciences Centre. Some of the items making a difference this year include:

• 10 new two-wheeled walkers for Cardiology/Stroke so patients can get up and mobile sooner without having to wait for one to come available.
  
• A paediatric wheelchair for Paediatrics, sized for children – the first one for this department.
  
• Music CDs for Radiation Therapy so relaxing and multicultural music can be played for patients during treatment instead of listening to radio stations.
  
• Six sets of weights and 10 exercise bands for the Renal program to facilitate exercise for patients to improve their physical functioning, muscle strength and quality of life.
  
• A cell phone/device charging station in the Emergency Department for people to access during their time in the department, especially in cases that require unexpected long stays for patients and people accompanying them.
  

Parents of young children will be comforted to know about the stuffed animals that have been purchased for the OR. They will be available to comfort children in the OR before their operation. “It’s better when a child comes in if they can focus on something,” says Debra Everts, OR Team Leader. “We can play with it like a puppet or they can hold it – whatever they need. It really helps. They visibly calm down, and you can see their heart rate go down on the monitor, too.”

Helping kids feel less anxious during surgery is just one way Family CARE Grants help patients at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre every day. You can donate directly to the Family CARE Grant program online at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donate (put “Family CARE Grant” in the message line) or call our Donation Centre directly at 807-345-4673.

A full list of all 2022 grants can be found online at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/familycare.

Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

---

There is certainly a feeling of renewal and energy in the air these days at TBRHSC. Perhaps it’s the warmer weather. Perhaps it is the fact that after three years of dealing with COVID-19, there is some sense of normalcy beginning to return. Most likely, it’s a combination of the two. Regardless, it is refreshing and welcomed.

On May 12^th and 13^th, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Board of Directors participated in a Tri-Board retreat with the Boards of Directors of the Health Research Institute and the Health Sciences Foundation. The three organizations are engaged in a common purpose: to provide quality care for patients and their families. I felt the collective commitment and energy as we discussed opportunities to progress collaboratively, identified unique challenges and were able to connect on our current priorities. I am excited about our next steps as we build on the momentum and energy as a result of meeting in person.

On May 11^th, our friends at the Health Sciences Foundation held a Chair’s Reception to recognize the many donors in our community and thank them for their generous contributions to strengthening patient care at our Hospital. The event was inspiring and the unwavering support and dedication of donors during these challenging times has been truly remarkable. It is because of these donations that we can continue to fund advancements in high quality health care close to home. The contributions of donors have made a significant difference in the lives of those who rely on Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and furthers our mission to deliver exceptional care for every patient, every time.

As we know, nurses make up the largest group of employees at our Hospital and National Nursing Week provided an opportunity to recognize their clinical excellence, versatility, and their ability to care for patients with compassion and professionalism. National Nursing Week (May 8-14) annually falls during the second week of May, coinciding with Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12^th, in recognition of the dedication and achievements of nursing professionals. We are thankful for our nurses for their incredible contributions to positive patient outcomes. A big thank you also goes out to the many local sponsors, community members and Hospital staff who helped to make this year’s edition of National Nursing Week a memorable one.

The past few months have been extremely busy as many people are back to moving full force with projects and activities. Over the past few weeks, I am pleased that we have had opportunity to welcome many of our elected officials to our organization. The importance of these visits cannot be understated and we are grateful for their time and the opportunity to highlight our unique population needs, and the challenges we face in providing care to support the vast majority of our region. We look forward to hosting many more of these tours and visits to further advocate for our community.

As this is my final monthly report prior to the summer break, I wish to add a final note of appreciation. I feel truly fortunate to work with the strong and effective administration at our Hospital. President & CEO, Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott and Chief of Staff, Dr. Bradley Jacobson, provide excellent leadership in their respective roles. As Board members, we hear often about the change in culture occurring at the Hospital, and the positive impact it has on staff and patients. A cultural shift starts at the top and could not occur without their leadership.

Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members for another year of stellar service during difficult times. Your expertise has been invaluable and I’d like to thank each and every one of you for the countless hours you have dedicated to the organization. I wish everyone a safe and happy summer.

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 June 7th, 2023 Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting featured a presentation on the Research Program.

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

In Canada, there is one stroke every 5 minutes, and stroke continues to be the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability.

Which is why every June, for Stroke Awareness Month, the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network wants to thank all their regional partners in Northwestern Ontario for their dedication in providing quality stroke care to patients and their families.

If you know someone who works in stroke care, please show your support by thanking them for everything they do!

Remember: stroke is a medical emergency in which minutes matter. To learn more, please see this video: https://bit.ly/Suspect-Stroke-Minutes-Matter and visit www.nwostroke.ca.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is raising the Progress Pride flag to commemorate start of Pride Month. Throughout June, Canadians acknowledge the impact that the 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Allies) community has had on history and recognize their contributions.

TBRHSC recognizes the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in shaping the care we provide and the health research we do. As an identified priority in our Strategic Plan 2026, we are working on embedding these qualities in everything that we do. This summer, we are developing an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, with the goal of creating an environment where patients, families, staff and volunteers feel like they belong. Raising the Progress Pride flag this month is one way our Hospital demonstrates our commitment to a kind, accepting and inclusive culture for our patients and our employees. Patients and families have the right to safe and equitable health care and staff have the right to an inclusive workplace where they feel valued. Our Hospital is dedicated to fostering an environment, free from discrimination, for all.

Building strong family relationships is an essential component to a healthy family. Positive family connections can help children to develop communication skills, improve problem-solving abilities and build self-esteem. Find time to laugh and have fun together while promoting healthy habits. Scheduling regular family time to be active together not only promotes physical health but also fosters family bonding and emotional well-being.  Consider having family members join in together on activities such as meal planning and preparation, taking a walk after dinner, exploring the outdoors or planting a garden.

For more resources on healthy living or to learn more about TBRHSC’s Paediatric Healthy Living Program, please visit our website at https://bit.ly/Paediatric-Healthy-Living-Program.

How did you get to work today? If you left your car at home, fantastic! If you drove in, not to worry – this challenge is running the ENTIRE month of June! So set some goals – will you swap your car once a week? Twice a week? Everyday? Will you walk? Bike? Take transit?

Sign up now and log your active commutes at www.TBayOnTheMove.ca

Are you working from home? Not to worry! Replace any trip in your vehicle with an active commute! Taking the bus to the grocery store, biking to an appointment, or walking to a meeting can all be submitted as active commutes.

The Active Commute Challenge:

• is a month-long challenge happening this June
• encourages you to switch your ride and actively commute to / from work
• is a friendly workplace competition – sign up to be a part of the TBRHSC team!
• allows you to track your active commutes and see your progress
• has prizes for individuals and workplaces