Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications & Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health has given recommendations on both masking and wearing eye protection for all staff and visitors. However, the protective level when masking and eye protection is required has been left up to facilities to determine.

Please note the following masking and goggle (eye protection) guidelines for each Response level:

Response Level Red: Continue current practice of level 3 procedure masks for all staff and visitors at all times unless eating in a designated area, and staff are to wear goggles at all times unless alone in an office. Staff in high-risk areas (hot zones) are to wear N95 masks and goggles at all times unless off the unit, then must wear a level 3 procedure mask and goggles unless in a designated eating area or alone in an office.

Response Level Orange: All visitors are required to wear a level 3 procedure mask at all times unless in a designated eating area. Staff are to wear a level 3 procedure mask and goggles in all areas of the Hospital, at all times unless alone in an office or in a designated eating area. All staff are to complete a point of care risk assessment and wear a N95 mask as required. Staff are also to wear an N95 mask for Air Generated Medical Procedures (AGMPs) and as indicated for additional precautions, as per infection control guidelines.

Response Level Yellow: All visitors must wear a level 3 procedure mask at all times unless in a designated eating area. Staff are to wear a level 3 procedure mask at all times unless alone in an office, in a designated eating area or in a meeting room if a two-meter distance can be maintained. Goggles are to be worn in all patient care areas, or when providing direct patient care and when unable to maintain a two-meter distance. All staff are to complete a point of care risk assessment and wear a N95 mask as required. Staff are also to wear an N95 mask for AGMPs and as indicated for additional precautions, as per infection control guidelines.

Response Level Green: Masks are not required for visitors who pass COVID-19 screening. Staff are not required to wear masks or goggles. All staff are to complete a point of care risk assessment and wear a N95 mask and eye protection if they feel it is required. Staff are also to wear an N95 mask for AGMPs as per infection control guidelines.

Please note that the above may change at any time prior to moving into a different response level and will be communicated.

All Hospital COVID-19 updates, resources and memos are available on the iNtranet at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/.

When the clock struck noon on Tuesday, April 12th, NOSM University students learned where they will be headed for residency training.

NOSM University’s fourth-year medical students are the only class in Canada to match 100% in the first round. This is an incredible accomplishment and would not be possible without the support of our preceptors, staff, and departments.

We are excited to welcome a new class of 4th year medical students on site on Monday, April 25th. The students will be learning from and working alongside us for the next year.

A very special thank goes out to Ashley Chiew in Academics and Interprofessional Education for all of her hard work and creativity to make this day special for our students!

Shared on behalf of on behalf of Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute

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As we advance the official rollout of our new Strategic Plan 2026, we are working concomitantly to align ourselves for success. To do this, we began by realigning, integrating and shifting our Senior Leadership team portfolios to be well-positioned to support the major directions identified in our pursuit of our new Vision – Exceptional care, for every patient, every time. 

Our new Vision gives us a sense of refocus, and a new beginning which will guide our decisions, investments and actions!

As we build and work to renew our organization in alignment with our Strategic Directions, we have identified several areas for transformative change.  These areas include:

• Creating of an Office of Care Equity and Indigenous Care/Collaboration

• Investing in ways to better support Patient Experience and Quality
• Investing in our Staff – resources for Recruitment, Retention, Engagement and Learning
• Investing in ways to better grow and support our front line care
• Integrating and advancing Practice, Academics and Learning
• Advancing and streamlining research and research process

Phase 1

Over the past several months, changes at the leadership level have created the need and opportunity to have some interim structures and reporting lines in place. Throughout this time we have assessed and engaged to determine how we could most effectively support organizational transformation and investment in our strategic directions while improving and streamlining efficiency in administration. As a result, we are now able to make the refinements in our structure to create efficiencies in leadership, while creating opportunities to invest in our strategic priorities moving forward. Effective April 18, 2022, the following changes will occur, in line with our planning, while we continue to engage in the building of our investments and transformation actions in line with our Priorities:  

• All Executive Vice President (EVP) positions will have title adjustments to reflect a title of Vice President (VP) and changes to portfolios
• Regional Renal Services will transfer to the Patient Experience, Chief Nursing Executive & Regional Cancer Care portfolio under the leadership of Director, Medicine & Renal Services
• Adult & Forensic Mental Health will be added to the Director of Women & Children’s Program leadership responsibilities
• Academics will join the portfolio under the VP of Medical & Academic Affairs (formerly VP Medical Affairs) with shared accountability to Patient Experience under the interim leadership of Director, Academics & Interprofessional Education  
• Pharmacy, Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging will transfer to VP Operations, Clinical & Support Services, and Chief Financial Officer portfolio under the leadership of the Director, Clinical Services
• Strategy and Decision Support will transfer to VP Strategy & Regional Transformation portfolio under the leadership of Director, Strategy & Decision Support
• Quality and Risk will remain in the VP Quality & Corporate Affairs (formerly EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations)

Please find attached an updated organizational chart to reflect the Senior Leadership Structure and revised position titles.

We are in the recruitment process for the VP, People & Culture and VP, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion.

As part of Phase 2 prioritization, we will move to engage further regarding alignment and investment strategies to support our Vision, Mission, and overall Directions and Priorities. The goal, in year one is to increase support at the front line, consistent with our Priorities related to patient and staff experience, while supporting the creation of the office of health equity / Indigenous care and collaboration. We are hopeful that through realignments and interest we will be well positioned to advance the major structural supports to our strategy in fall 2022 or sooner.

Medical Staff leadership restructuring is progressing under the leadership of the VP Medical and Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff. Engagement and details of this will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your anticipated support and for your ongoing dedication to our patients, families and one another. 

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

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Effective immediately, Director oversight for Medicine Inpatient Units 2A and 2B will revert from interim coverage by Crystal Edwards back to ongoing leadership by Ron Turner, Director, Medicine and Renal Services.

On behalf of the 2A and 2B Managers, the staff, and myself, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Crystal for her support over the past several months. Her contributions and guidance during this time were greatly appreciated.

Starting the evening of Monday, May 2nd, Information Technology will be implementing an updated username format for new staff and new email address formats for all users.

Username Change: For new accounts only

Usernames will be 10 characters long, and include a number.

Email address Change: For all new and existing users

You will have the email address that matches your username username@tbh.net and you will have a professional looking outgoing email address that uses your first and last name to create a standard industry email (we call this an email alias) firstname.lastname@tbh.net

All Citrix Users: For all new and existing Citrix Workspace users

The email address used to login to Citrix Workspace will be changing. 

Before Change: username@tbh.net to login
After Change: Enter your new email alias firstname.lastname@tbh.net to login

We encourage staff to update their email signatures, as well as, letterhead and business cards to the new alias format when reordering after June 2022.

If there are any question or concerns please contact our Help Desk at 684-6411 or Help@tbh.net.

For more information, please contact Kristie Scalzo, Professional Practice at scalzok@tbh.net.

Shared on behalf of Help Desk

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On Friday, May 6th, there will be several changes made to your Webex Applications.  When logging onto your computer, your Meetings Application will pop-up as always.  It should have an Update button at the top of the window (blue button in Image 1).  When you click on this, several things will happen.

1. It will uninstall your Meetings Application (Image 1)
2. It will update/install the WebexApp on your computer (most computers already have the WebexApp installed)  (Image 2)
3. It will consolidate the Meetings Application into the Meetings Button within the WebexApp (Yellow Circle in Image 2)

The main impact of this change will be the removal of the Meetings Application and consolidation into the WebexApp.  If you do not click on the Update button, it will update on its own on subsequent logins, or when you launch Webex from your Application Launcher.