• 

• 

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre (TBRHSC) Sim Program would like to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of simulation champions who go above and beyond to deliver and advance simulation-based education at TBRHSC and in the region. One such champion is Dr. Rosamaria North (a.k.a. Rosie). She is an Emergency Department (ED) Physician at TBRHSC, Assistant Professor at NOSM, and Simulation Director of the TBRHSC ED LEG.

Being the kind soul that she is, Rosie did not want the support of her team and department to go unrecognized and stated that they make her job fun and easy. Her and her department’s notable achievements in the recent past include:

1. The addition of 5 simulation cases to the EM library based on cases experienced in the emergency department. One case, Foreign Body Airway Obstruction, has been published to www.emsimcases.com after peer review.
2. Commencing simulation sessions for paramedics in conjunction with the Northwest Region Prehospital Care Program and their Program Medical Director, Dr. Adam Exley.
3. Starting a pilot virtual simulation project in collaboration with NOSM University CEPD for our regional rural emergency departments.
4. Working with Tabetha Belanger (Lead, Interprofessional Education and Simulation), a keen medical student, and NOSM University faculty to build a two-week simulation clinical elective for NOSM University fourth year Undergraduate Medical Education learners.  

The Sim Program truly appreciates Rosie’s support and suggestions which help us to ensure we are meeting the needs of our educators and learners. Moreover, she takes on additional responsibilities and willingly assists other departments and our regional partners which we believe truly deserves a mention. Her dedication to providing high quality learning experiences for staff and learners contributes to ensure exceptional patient care and experiences for all that visit TBRHSC. Thank you to Dr. North and the ED!

Nursing Week, which takes place May 9-15, coincides with Florence Nightingale’s birthday (May 12) and is a week to acknowledge the dedication and achievements of nursing professionals. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is taking the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the vital role nurses play in making the patient experience better by delivering quality care in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario.

“Nurses are a fundamental part of health care in our community, a fact which has been underscored by the strength and resilience they have shown throughout the pandemic,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, who started her career as a nurse at the Hospital 30 years ago. “I want to show my gratitude for their unwavering care and dedication to the health and wellbeing of our community, particularly over the last two years.”

Nurses have been instrumental to TBRHSC’s front line response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to their direct patient care roles, many have taken on additional duties and responsibilities to help protect the health and safety of the community. For example, nurses are leading the testing at our COVID-19 Assessment Centre, administered hundreds of COVID-19 vaccines to Hospital staff and members of the community, and are constantly learning new and advanced skills to support our pandemic response.

“The passion that the nurses here at our Hospital have for their work is incredible,” said Adam Vinet, Vice President, Patient Experience and Chief Nursing Executive, TBRHSC and Vice President, Cancer Care Services, North West Region. “They rise to every challenge, and are committed to providing quality care and advocating for every patient. This week we celebrate their hard work and their successes.”

In recognition of the wide scope of duties nursing professionals have taken on during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Nursing Association (CNA) has identified this year’s theme as ‘We Answer the Call’. The theme provides opportunity to showcase the many roles that nurses play in a patient’s health care journey. The pandemic brought to light the courage and commitment that nurses work under every day and highlights the important role that nurses play in our communities. 

Please join us in extending best wishes to Lucy Keetch, who is retiring after 36 years of dedicated service. We would like to wish her well in her future undertakings in her retirement.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

---

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the Transitional Care Unit (Cedar Site) as of May 6, 2022. All restrictions are in place.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff
and visitors. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak have been isolated with appropriate additional precautions. Essential Care Partners will only be permitted on a case by case basis, following the process outlined in the Care Partner/ Essential Care Partner Guidance Document.

Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to continue applying routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, cleaning shared equipment and the appropriate screening of all patients. Please set an example to staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence. Staff with questions regarding potential exposures should contact Occupational Health and Safety.

Notice will be sent when the outbreak is declared over.

For more information, please contact at Infection Prevention and Control at 684-6094.

Shared on behalf of Amy Carr, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer

---

Effective immediately, Monique Trudeau will assume the role of Interim Manager, Employee Engagement. Monique will be acting in this role until Trisha Gibson’s return.

Monique is well known to the Hospital having joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in 2000 and she has held many progressive roles within the Human Resources department. Most recently, Monique held the role of Consultant, Employee Relations. Recruitment for the Interim Consultant, Employee Relations is underway.

Please join me in welcoming Monique to this new role and sending support and well wishes to Trisha. Monique can be reached at 684-6390.

Shared on behalf of Ron Turner, Director of Medicine and Renal Services

---

I am pleased to announce that Taylor MacKenzie has accepted the TFT Manager of the 2A Medicine Inpatient Unit, and the Hospital Elder Life Program, effective Monday, May 23^rd, 2022.

In his new role, Taylor will report to Ron Turner, Director of Medicine and Renal Services, and he will oversee the clinical operations of the above mentioned programs and services.

Taylor has worked at the Hospital since 2010, initially as a staff nurse on the 2B Medicine Inpatient Unit, and then with the Nursing Resource Team, in the Diagnostic Imagining Recovery Room, and on the 2C Medicine Inpatient Unit. He has since been able to apply his broad experience and leadership skills to his most recent role as the Clinical Nurse Specialist on the 1A Oncology/Medicine Unit. 

Taylor’s expertise in the management of medical patients, along with his commitment to quality care and staff education, will be an incredible asset to the portfolio.

Please join us in welcoming Taylor to his new position. 

Congratulations to Madyson MacGillivray – winner of the quarterly ‘Good Catch’ Awards.

Good Catch Awards highlight individuals, groups or departments who demonstrate their commitment to keeping patients safe by reporting a near miss. A ‘good catch’ (or near miss) is an event or situation that could have resulted in harm, but did not reach the patient because of chance or timely intervention. Reporting these events can help to identify gaps in order to prevent future adverse events from happening.

Madyson was awarded a certificate and gift card to the Thunder Bay Country Market.

New winners will be randomly selected every quarter. Continue submitting your near misses for a chance to win! Near miss reports are submitted through the Incident Learning System (patient safety incidents). Click on the ‘safety reporting’ icon from your Novell home page, or go to the iNtranet and choose ‘Safety Reporting’ under ‘Informational’.

For more information, contact Katherine Mayer, Patient Safety Specialist at mayerk@tbh.net.

A patient safety plan defines how an organization will focus on reducing risk, preventing harm, and promoting optimal patient safety. It is a road map to promote safe health care services.

The TBRHSC Patient Safety Plan aligns with the Strategic Plan, the Quality Improvement Plan, the Integrated Risk Management Framework, Required Organizational Practices, the Canadian Patient Safety Action Plans and professional best practices.

Our Patient Safety Goals include:

1. Creating a culture of safety within the organization
2. Promoting effective information transfer with clients and team members across the continuum of care
3. Reducing the risk of health care-associated infections and their impact across the continuum of care

To learn more, find the Patient Safety Plan on the iNtranet under ‘Quality and Risk Management‘, or through the link: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/corporate-info/accreditation-2022/documents/patient-safety-plan

Bev Swazey is retiring after 46 years of dedicated nursing. She started her career in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at McKellar Hospital before moving on to Port Arthur General Hospital. Bev then moved to Winnipeg to advance her career in CVT and the Emergency Department. After her time in Winnipeg, Bev worked in several northern communities and mine nursing before coming back to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to work in Hemodialysis and the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Please join us on May 10th to wish her the best in her retirement. Bev plans to do some travelling with her husband Fred, and spend her days at camp with her grandchildren.