Effective November 8, 2022 the current password for accessing our EBSCOhost databases from outside the Hospital will expire and be replaced with a new password. The password expires annually.
To get the new password TBRHSC staff and professional staff must email the library at TBRHSC.MedicalLibrary@tbh.net using their personal TBH GroupWise account.
For more information, please email tbrhsc.medicalibrary@tbh.net.
Shared on behalf of Michael Del Nin, Director, Strategy and Performance
I’m pleased to announce that Angela Kutok has accepted the position of Acting Manager, Planning & Performance Improvement, filling in for Jennifer Madahbee while she is away on maternity leave from mid-November 2022 through March 31, 2024.
Angela started with the Hospital in 2002, initially working in the Staffing Office. Since then, she has held positions as an Executive Assistant for the Human Resources portfolio and as Board Liaison where she worked closely with our CEO and Board Chair. In early 2020, Angela joined Strategy & Performance as a Performance Improvement Consultant, and has completed a number of high profile and successful initiatives including support for several COVID-19 response initiatives, identifying and implementing improvements for the Nursing Resource Team and Staffing Office, and implementation of the Voluntary Indigenous Patient Self-identification project. Angela is currently working on the UKG Dimensions staff scheduling project and the search for a patient acuity tool (both of which originated from the NRT and Staffing Office improvement initiative), as well as deployment of the Novari Cardiovascular Pathway.
Angela has training and certification in project management and in LEAN, and is a Business Coaching Advantage Practitioner™. She is people-centred, results-focused, and has a wealth of experience that she fully leverages to do great work and to ensure success for the initiatives she supports.
In her new role, Angela will lead and manage our Performance Improvement staff in supporting the implementation of Strategic Plan 2026 and completion of its 26 initiatives, as well as an ever-growing list of other projects that support the Hospital’s ongoing operations.
Please join me in welcoming Angela to her new role.
Our Departmental Features are being run monthly, up to our Employee Recognition Week which is taking place February 26 to March 3, 2023. This initiative aligns with our Hospital’s strategic priority of Staff Experience, by recognizing and celebrating the work that our staff are doing every day. This month we are looking at the Hemodialysis Department!
In the Northwest Regional Renal Program, the Renal department staff provide treatment to those with Chronic/Acute kidney disease. We provide care to renal patients in a multi-disciplinary approach. Our team includes Nephrologists, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Dieticians, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Biomedical Technologists, Clerks, Dialysis Aides, Vascular Access Coordinators, Home Dialysis Coordinators and Indigenous Coordinators. The Renal Program has approximately 140 employees within all the different areas.
One area that currently has recruitment needs is the Hemodialysis Satellite Units. These are smaller units located inside Meno Ya Win Hospital in Sioux Lookout and Riverside Hospital in Fort Frances. They are staffed by Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Employees.
Staff Story:
Satellite units offer several unique opportunities compared to larger renal dialysis units. Without an onsite Nephrologist or Charge Nurse to defer assessment and immediate decision-making, satellite nurses develop their skills competencies, leadership abilities, as well as critical thinking. Satellite units serve fewer patients which means fewer alarms and equipment clutter, generally a more peaceful environment for both patients and nurses. Also as a result of having fewer patients and staff, nurses have the opportunity to get to know their patients well so the atmosphere is familiar and collegial. When the satellite unit is in a remote or culturally distinct area, nurses have the opportunity to develop regional expertise, expanding on the already vital and indispensable role of hemodialysis nurses in the health care team. Heather Mesich, RN
In the renal program, we strive to ensure patients are involved in their care plan and decision-making processes for their treatment. We establish Goals of Care as directed by the patient very early in their renal journey and re-visit their goals of care with any care transitions.
Our patients who come to the hospital 3 times per week for in-centre hemodialysis spend upwards of 576 hours per year in our unit. We have tried to make the unit as comfortable as possible for these individuals with comfortable chairs for their 3-4 hour treatment, TVs at each station, warm blankets and an inviting atmosphere. Our staff become very close with the patients, families and caregivers.
We are always happy and willing to show the renal unit to anyone interested, just reach out!
This article has been edited for length, to see this full article and any prior Departmental Features, please visit the Human Resources, Employee Recognition page of the iNtranet.
Share Your Patient Experience Stories With Us!
Patient & Family Centred Care has been, and continues to be, the philosophy that guides us. It is about our patients, families, staff, PFA’s, volunteers and health care partners working together to develop new ideas and initiatives to help improve our patients experience.
While our annual, on-site Sharing and Caring Together celebration is not possible this year, we would love to hear from you about:
Each story submitted to the PFCC office will receive a ballot to enter our Pizza Party contest – that means pizza for the winners unit/department!
Email your stories to: TBRHSC.PFCC@tbh.net
One ballot per story, enter as many stories as you like.
Contest closes: Friday, October 28, 2022
(Thunder Bay, ON – October 19, 2022) Representatives from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation joined Kevin Holland, Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay—Atikokan, to share details of the next stage of the Cardiovascular Surgery Project.
When complete, the updated Cardiovascular Surgery space will feature a cardiac operating room (OR) for open heart surgery, a hybrid OR with imaging equipment for minimally invasive cardiac and vascular procedures, a 14-bed Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, and a six-bed Coronary Care Unit.
“This is what progress looks like,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, TBRHSC and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “With the support of the Ontario government, we continue to progress towards our goal of providing a full cardiovascular surgery program at our Hospital for the people we serve across Northwestern Ontario.”
In August 2021, the provincial government announced $5.2 million in funding to support the planning and design of the Hospital’s new Cardiovascular Surgery Project. The Project is a partnership between TBRHSC and Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at University Health Network (UHN) and employs a ‘one program, two sites’ model of care, which will deliver comprehensive cardiovascular care to the people of Northwestern Ontario. The corridor of services created will ensure the highest standard of care to all cardiovascular patients, whether requiring routine or complex interventions.
Shortly after, the Project received Stage 2 “Functional Program” approval. This included a detailed description of the programs to be delivered, the workload and staffing associated with the programs and major equipment and space requirements.
With the latest approval, the Hospital is able to proceed to Stage 3.1, which will be done jointly with TBRHSC and UHN. Requirements for this stage include preliminary design of the space and detailed mechanical, electrical, fixture, furniture and equipment needs. The clinical program and design development teams are working diligently to meet the November deadline for Stage 3.1 (of five stages).
“The capital planning process is lengthy, but we look forward to reaching our goal and providing life saving treatment within our community,” said TBRHSC Board Chair Gord Wickham. “Investments like this one, in our people and environment, take a lot of time and planning, but will ensure our patients have access to the highest quality of cardiovascular care in spaces that support innovation and are closer to home.”
Special thanks goes out to the generous donors in our community who designate their donations directly to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation’s Cardiovascular Surgery campaign, which will be instrumental in bringing cardiovascular surgery to TBRHSC.
“We are excited to be celebrating today, along with the Hospital and Ontario Government, indicating their further commitment to the Cardiovascular surgery project,” said Dan Topatigh, Vice-Chair of the Our Hearts at Home Campaign Cabinet. “We all look forward to the day when cardiac surgery is performed here, at home, in Northwestern Ontario.”
As part of today’s event, a sign has been erected on site at TBRHSC relaying the province’s commitment to bringing cardiovascular surgery services to the region.
To learn more about TBRHSC’s Cardiovascular Surgery Project, please visit https://bit.ly/TBRHSC-CVSProgram.
Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control
Please be advised that the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared over at 2A Medical Inpatient Unit as of October 18, 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.
Shared on behalf of Cindy Fedell, Regional Chief Information Officer
We are pleased to announce that Anne Gamble has accepted the position of Privacy and Freedom of Information Officer.
Anne is a privacy professional who has worked for many years in privacy and health records. More recently, Anne was the Privacy Officer at Georgian College. Her experience includes working for a decade as the Privacy Officer and Health Records Manager at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital. Anne has also worked at the Ministry of Health and several other hospitals over the length of her career.
Anne is a Certified Health Information Management professional and is bilingual in both English and French.
In this role as Privacy and Freedom of Information Officer, Anne will be responsible for leading a proactive privacy program and for providing expert advice and guidance on privacy for the organization. This role reports to the Regional Chief Information Officer.
Starting October 24, 2022 Anne can be contacted by at 807-684-6988 and AnneLouise.Gamble@tbh.net or at the Privacy Office email TBRHSC.Privacy@tbh.net.
Please join me in welcoming Anne into her new role.
October is Healthy Workplace Month! Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Healthy Hospital Working Group invite you to learn about holistic wellbeing.
Virtually attend a variety of educational sessions on topics within Excellence Canada’s four elements of healthy workplaces:
See the attached poster for details on each session.
If you missed previous events, you can view the recordings at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTa7qzg85cRQDq1s3OVj2kg. The survey link for prizes can be found in the description of each video.