We recognize we are facing unprecedented challenges in our Hospital and within our health care system. Amidst this, you continue to provide exceptional care and persevere. Thank you!
We are working collectively with all the hospitals in the North West, along with our academic partners from Lakehead University, Confederation College and NOSM University to identify strategies that will improve recruitment and retention within our hospitals, and within our region. We are working towards a brighter future. To do this, we need to hear from you.
Please complete a survey to share your feedback related to your work experiences in the health sector including workforce conditions, challenges and opportunities. This data will inform recruitment and retention efforts for current and future staff, as well as inform broader regional initiatives.
Thank you for your patience as we have been working with the vendor to resolve some technical challenges related to the much anticipated Coaching For Development (CFD) program. In order to ensure a successful launch of the program, we will be testing live in Dual Code, our learning management system, the week of October 31, 2022. While precautions will be put into place to prevent unnecessary notifications or emails, there is the potential for the system to send out automated emails informing staff of overdue or pending CFD forms. If received, these emails should be disregarded.
I hope you are all well and taking care of yourselves as we enter a very busy flu season. This is not new territory for us here at TBRHSC – but it is new when it comes after 2.5 years of a global pandemic that has many of you understandably exhausted physically and emotionally.
While our colleagues across Ontario are in much of the same situation, the reality is given our colder weather and the move indoors has happened sooner, we are seeing the wave of these respiratory illnesses earlier and worse than most. So, please ensure you are up to date on your COVID-19 booster and flu shots to best protect yourself, your colleagues, and your friends and families. Both vaccines can be received at the same time.
Coping With the Surge
You may have noticed I did a very pointed message through the local media last week where we urged people to consider alternatives for non-emergency situations as the Hospital sees a surge in COVID-19 and flu patients. I was crystal clear that our frontline staff are exhausted and like other hospitals in Ontario, our system is under and immense amount of strain – and that we want to ensure our Hospital is ready for people who are having medical emergencies. I am hopeful they will get the message that our ED should not be used as a medical clinic or doctor’s office for non-emergency situations – and to be prepared to wait if they do.
In the early days of COVID-19, to mitigate against these surges we closed services, triaged care and redeployed our staff and health workers to the area of highest need / demand. Today, while faced with several unrelenting surges in care need, we have now reinstituted scheduled care while attempting to address the years of slowdown in care access. Addressing and ramping up surgical and procedural care, and diagnostics, for example, while working to support the early onset of seasonal flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illness, while continuing to be challenged with ALC and other system pressures is a challenge we’ve never seen.
As well, in support of the anticipated Pediatric surge in need / care – the Women’s and Children’s program has begun creating capacity and hiring and training additional staff to ensure readiness to respond to the seasonal surge in respiratory care needs. In addition to that, we are working with our provincial colleagues to ensure a system of care that ensures those most acute and in need can get the level of care they require.
Progress During Tough Times
Through all this struggle, it is critical that we not lose sight of the big picture – and that is through the past 2.5 years, TBRHSC has seen incredible progress in crucial areas related to our Strategic Plan. For the first time in our history as you know, TBRHSC has achieved Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada this past year. This award is the highest level awarded to organizations going through the Accreditation process and the result of our collective commitment to providing our patients with safe, high-quality care. Also, our senior team continues to evolve and improve through re-organization to best serve the needs of the communities we serve.
In addition, we are making progress in Cardiovascular Services as you may have seen with the recent announcement (support to move to Stage 3.1 – Block Schematics / Preliminary Design Drawings) that represents one step closer to bringing cardiovascular services provided here within our walls. When complete, the updated cardiovascular surgery space will feature additional cardiac and vascular support operations and jointly with University Health Network, we will support the needs of our communities requiring these specialized services. Many teams are working on this project and we are grateful for their diligence and expertise as we continue to make our way through the stages to reach our goals. I invite you to read more here.
Cancer Care Teamwork
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers for women in Northwestern Ontario and from the moment of diagnosis, it takes teams and teamwork to help those affected by it to beat it. I am so proud of the teams within North West Regional Cancer Program and our Hospital optimally working together through a multidisciplinary approach to achieve better outcomes for patients. I was honoured to bring greetings and take part in the Luncheon of Hope this year where ongoing collaborative efforts continue to be successful to provide the latest diagnostic and treatment options for the many patients who need quality cancer care close to home. The work of these teams lead by the Health Sciences Foundation to make this event a success year after year is impressive and inspiring. Thank you, all, for what you do.
Celebrating Teamwork
There is no doubt that we don’t take enough time out of our day to reflect on the small things…the incremental and seemingly little things that in the end are the big things contributing to major organizational improvements.
If you recall, back many months ago when we were unveiling our Strategic Plan and strategic alignment, we talked about how we were working to align ourselves to be more successful in how we work by having the right structures in place to enable us to create synergies in our work. In addition, positioning ourselves to be more cohesive, enabling us to reach our goals together for positive outcomes.
The teamwork and collaboration is ongoing and is ever changing and evolving to overcome challenges and be even more effective as we work to keep patients at the centre of everything we do. We have made much progress in both developing our Strategic Plan and priorities and aligning our structure and people to achieve our goals. I am proud and grateful to be part of our high performing team. We know that working together creates limitless possibilities, and it is through slow and steady incremental change, that we will make gains on our priorities in Strategic Plan 2026. That said, our experience has been one of ongoing adjustments, change and innovation in order to achieve results.
Over the past month, I have heard countless stories of how people are going that extra step to help their colleague, make patients feel cared for and truly valued…and making extra efforts – well above and beyond. Many of you know of the recent clinical and capacity challenges of the ED, Obstetrics and Anaesthesia – without going into clinical detail – these are just a few examples that come to mind, where urgent and extraordinary circumstances presented and a huge “wow” extraordinary response, collaboration and just amazing care was provided.
I look forward to showcasing many of these types of situations in future blogs – in detail, where appropriate – as we look to promote a culture of recognition and reflecting on the exceptional staff we have, living the values of our organization – leading us to our vision of Exceptional care for every patient, every time.
Final Thoughts
While we all know full well the realities of the current state of our health care system and the pressures we face, I do believe it is vital that we also profile and celebrate our successes – and we do have much to be proud of here as a team at TBRHSC.
As I conclude, I am going to do what I have done since day one as CEO – and that is thank you for everything you do every day. While most of society has returned to some semblance of normalcy at work, school and in their social lives, normalcy simply isn’t a word that applies to people working the front lines of health care. So, thank you for your continued professionalism, endurance and compassion for our patients and each other.
You are always welcome to comment on this blog or connect with me for any other matter. You can reach me at: rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net.
Staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre got into the Halloween spirit today. Their playful costuming brought joy and smiles to patients and staff that they encountered throughout the day.
If you’re celebrating Halloween this year, please do so safely by taking the proper pandemic precautions. Our friends at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) have some great tips on how to stay safe. Visit the TBDHU Twitter page to learn more.
Cancer Care staff showing their Halloween spirit.Paediatric Care staff in their fun Halloween gear.
It is cuteness overload in the NICU! This Halloween, our Hospital’s smallest patients are dressed up, with some of the costumes crafted by the NICU staff. Thank you to the parents of the newborns and staff for letting us share these wonderful photos.
On November 23, there is a virtual education session on Transfusion Medicine for Nurses from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please see poster below for details. If you have any questions, please reach out to Janet Sharun at janet.sharun@tbh.net or extension 6901.
credit: Shannon Mancuso, NICU nurse)
