The third annual Nursing Skills Days was held by the Clinical Nurse Specialist group at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre during the month of November. Nursing Skills Days are education days provided to new graduate nurses and new hires to our Hospital from the medical/surgical and Emergency departments. The nurses and new hires participated in various simulations and education sessions to review pertinent nursing skills that enhance their knowledge, skills and judgment as new nurses and new employees to the organization. To cap things off, an Escape Room activity was held where participants had to critically think their way out of. The team with the fastest escape time was team “Gloved & Loaded”.
Congratulations and great work to all of the nurses and new hires who participated this year!
Pictured above are the team members from “Gloved & Loaded” from left to right Ruhani Pathak (3B), Madison Giertuga (1A), Evan Warwick (3B), Maya Arifin (ED), Mary Flaherty (3B), Courtney Vella (2A), Lauren Perozak (2C) and Raegan Menard (2A).
Reminder that masking immediately upon entrance to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and all satellite buildings continues. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s internal COVID-19 Pandemic Response Level was recently assessed, and we are Level Red (Control). Masking is mandatory for all except for when eating or within a private office. Level 3 masking remains required at all times.
We remain committed to doing everything possible to keep patients and staff safe, including maintaining best practices in infection, prevention and control.
Thank you for your patience and commitment to the community as we continue to put patients at the centre of everything that we do.
Shared on behalf of Angela Kutok, Acting Manager, Planning & Performance Improvement
I am pleased to announce that Amanda Walberg has accepted the temporary Performance Improvement Consultant position in the Strategy and Performance portfolio.
Amanda currently provides administrative and coordination support to the Vice President of Strategy and Regional Transformation where she manages various regional committees and projects working towards a collaborative and integrated regional health system. Prior to this, Amanda was a project assistant supporting the Hospital’s COVID-19 Incident Management Team and also worked in Prevention and Screening Services.
Amanda holds an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology from Lakehead University and is actively working toward a Master of Health Administration (Community Care). Amanda’s experience, education, and skills will be a great asset to the team as we move forward with the Strategic Plan 2026.
Amanda will begin a gradual transition to this new role over the next two months until she completes her current temporary term in February 2023.
We are excited to have Amanda come on board! Please join me in congratulating her on her new role.
(L-R Roland Crevier & Wayne Bellamy) are the winners of the November 50/50 Grand Prize of $580,238.
Roland Crevier and Wayne Bellamy from Thunder Bay got an early Christmas present today. Roland Crevier got the call that he is the winner of the November Thunder Bay 50/50 Grand Prize draw, turning a $50 ticket bundle into enough money to fill a Santa sack – $580,238!
“I support the Thunder Bay 50/50 each month, but for November I bought this ticket with my uncle Wayne since it was his 78th birthday,” Roland said. “I am speechless, I don’t even know what I’m going to do with the winnings!”
Proceeds from the Thunder Bay 50/50 monthly draw go towards purchasing vital equipment and making upgrades at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and its satellite programs across Northwestern Ontario. To date, over $14 Million in prizes has been awarded to winners from across Ontario and, in turn, millions of dollars of vital equipment has been purchased for the Hospital.
“It has been another amazing year of support for the Thunder Bay 50/50 and, in turn, the Hospital,” says Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “To show our thanks, we have lots of big things happening for the December draw – a guaranteed minimum $1 million jackpot, more Early Bird draws, ticket packages with extra bonus numbers, and a December 50/50 Pop-up store for people to buy their tickets while in the Intercity Shopping Centre. We’re hoping to end the year with our biggest jackpot ever.”
December Draw Now Open
December’s draw features 17 Early Bird draws worth $50,000, with the last being the largest – a $25,000 prize on December 28th! The grand prize jackpot happens Friday, December 29, 2022. Tickets are now available online at www.thunderbay5050.ca or at the December 50/50 Store in Intercity’s food court area. Ticket packages are as follows:
** Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 29, 2022 to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on Friday, December 30, 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. (2022 Lottery licence RAF1222518)
Video Caption – Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation breaking the good news to (Roland) that he won $580,238 in the November Thunder Bay 50/50 Jackpot.
In Northwestern Ontario, there are over 60 Indigenous communities. For certain types of cancer, rates are increasing among the Indigenous population. Research suggests that culturally appropriate screening and education could help detect cancers early.
There are unique challenges to obtaining equitable cancer screening services. Currently, the most significant barriers to cancer screening for Indigenous people include fragmented care, lack of educational support and culturally appropriate care, as well as intergenerational trauma. In Northwestern Ontario, accessing health services like cancer screening can be difficult for people living in rural and remote Indigenous communities. The need to leave the community and travel for medical appointments is one of the challenges they face.
To overcome some of these barriers, the North West Regional Cancer Program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) introduced the Screen for Life Coach. The coach is a mobile cancer screening service offering breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening in one convenient location. It travels around the region to bring cancer screening closer home and make these services accessible.
The coach has been collaborating with Indigenous communities in Northwestern Ontario since the inception of the Ontario Breast Screening Program in 1990. Over the years, the partnership has strengthened, with a deepened understanding of the importance of providing culturally appropriate care. The coach now provides cancer screening services to over 45 Indigenous communities—this includes both drive-in and fly-in communities.
During the summer months, the coach travels throughout the region and will park in or as close as possible to Indigenous communities. In the winter months, specific days are arranged for some fly-in communities or individuals living off reserve to visit the coach while it is parked in Thunder Bay.
Regardless of the time of year, our staff work with nursing stations, health centres, and Aboriginal Health Access Centres to recruit and support cancer screening for individuals in these communities.
“The key to success is having a champion in the communities who works closely with us,” explains Bonnie Lindberg, regional Indigenous cancer lead at TBRHSC. “These champions promote cancer screening and the upcoming coach visit, provide education on the importance of routine screening, and support the recruitment of those who are due for cancer screening in their community.
In advance of the coach visit, TBRHSC staff travel to the communities to host Lunch and Learns or attend community events like health fairs or powwows. During these visits, they provide education about cancer screening and chronic disease prevention, and encourage those who are due for cancer screening to make an appointment for when the coach comes to their community.
“We continue working to increase access to cancer screening in our region,” says Vanessa Masters, mobile coach coordinator at TBRHSC. “We are constantly scouting new locations and looking to add communities into our schedule. One important thing we look for is that a site and the road leading into the community can accommodate the size of the coach and has a suitable place for us to park.”
To learn more about the Screen for Life Coach and the communities it visits, please visit tbrhsc.net/screenforlife.
With the recent update to GroupWise, a new GroupWise Web version has been released. This update includes many new enhancements to the Web client. (Please note, GroupWise Webaccess (https://gwmail.tbh.net) and GroupWise Web (https://gwweb.tbh.net) are two different web clients, with GroupWise Web eventually replacing GroupWise Web Access). Both of the GroupWise Web clients can be accessed from the Staff Login page (HSC) or Employee Portal page (SJCG) of your organization’s external website.
The most update to date GroupWise Web User Guide can be found here.
The memo attached below contains a full listing of GroupWise Web New Features.
Health Sciences Foundation Opens New December Pop-up Store at Intercity Shopping Centre
Photo: L-R Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute and Glenn Craig, CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation gather in front of the Thunder Bay 50/50 Pop-up store located inside Intercity Shopping Centre. For December only, tickets can also be purchased at the Thunder Bay 50/50 Pop-up store.
Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, today announced that December’s Thunder Bay 50/50 jackpot will be a guaranteed $1 million prize – the largest guaranteed 50/50 prize in Thunder Bay history.
Craig made the announcement during the Grand Opening of the new Thunder Bay 50/50 December Pop-up Store in the Food Court (old Davids Tea) at Intercity Shopping Centre.
“The best part of my month is making that call to the lucky jackpot winner. This Christmas season, with the guaranteed $1 million prize, it will be even sweeter,” Craig said.
Buying tickets will be sweeter, too. Starting today, everyone who wants a chance to win the life-changing jackpot can purchase their tickets in-person at the Thunder Bay 50/50 December Pop-up Store. Plus, the Intercity Shopping Centre location makes it easier than ever to gift tickets. Ready-made gift packages include a card and festive envelope to put under the tree or in a stocking.
The December Pop-up Store continues a long tradition and partnership between the Health Sciences Foundation and Intercity.
“Before Thunder Bay 50/50, we hosted an annual 50/50 draw at Christmas with booths set up at Intercity,” Craig said. “Of course this year, we are doing it up so much bigger. The popularity of Thunder Bay 50/50 has been overwhelming, and we wanted to create a special atmosphere to meet that level of excitement.”
“Hosting the December 50/50’s in person ticket sales is a natural fit for Intercity given our past history of having the Foundation’s 50/50 Cash Draw sales and winner draws here for close to 20 years,” said Stacey Ball, General Manager, Intercity Shopping Centre. “Intercity is once again thrilled to partner with the Foundation to raise money over the holidays to bring health care in our city and region to the next level.”
Another Christmas-only special: the $100 Super Ticket, which includes 100 Bonus Numbers, will only be available for the December draw – along with the $50 ticket package with Bonus Numbers (please see ticket prices below).
There will be 17 Early Bird draws as well in December with prizes totally $50,000 including a $25,000 prize on December 28.
Proceeds from this month’s draw will go towards supporting the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Emergency Department, which is one of the busiest in Ontario.
“We are so grateful for these funds as they will go towards enhancing patient care in our Emergency Department,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “I’d like to extend my appreciation to the staff at the Foundation and the people of Northwest Ontario who continue to support their Hospital and frontline health care workers through initiatives like this.”
December Draw Now Open
Tickets are now available online or in-person at the December Thunder Bay 50/50 Store at Intercity Shopping Centre (in the food court). People can buy for themselves or to give as gifts! Ticket packages are as follows:
$10 for 5 numbers
$20 for 30 numbers
$50 for 150 numbers + BONUS 50 numbers = 200 numbers total
$100 Super Ticket for 500 numbers + BONUS 100 numbers = 600 numbers total (Best Value)
** Ticket purchasers must be present in Ontario to purchase and 18 years old or older. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 29, 2022 to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on Friday, December 30, at 11:00 a.m.
In anticipation of our upcoming Employee Recognition Week (ERW) 2023, we are shining a spotlight on some of our local supporters. Today we are featuring our friends at International House of Tea, who recognize our staff with a free sit-down tea and sweet treat on their birthday, through our Affinity List.
Here’s what former employee of International House of Tea, Mary Armenti, had to say about their ongoing support of Hospital employees:
Tea can be a way to give you a boost when tired, to calm you after a long day, or to regain some balance when transitioning between work and home life. International House of Tea is happy to serve the TBRHSC staff. Work in healthcare is vital, and it often involves long days and stressful situations. We want to make it a little easier to purchase what you need to prepare for your rejuvenating rituals. A warm cup of tea or herbs can help bring the mind back to centre. This is our way of saying thank you to those who provide and support the treatment, healing, and wellness people of in our community and beyond.
Our friends at International House of Tea can be found at 205 Algoma Street South.
An updated copy of our Affinity List can be found here: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/departments/human-resources/programs/affinity/tbrhsc-on-going-affinity-list.
For more information on our upcoming Employee Recognition Week, taking place February 26-March 3, 2023, contact Madeline Reinikka at madeline.reinikka@tbh.net or ext 6221.
Please be advised that the Influenza A outbreak has been declared over at 1A Medical Inpatient Unit (Acute Oncology and Medical Inpatient Units) as of November 19, 2022. All restrictions have been lifted.
Please share this information with the appropriate staff.
For more information, please contact Infection Prevention and Control at extension 6094.
