National Health Care Supply Chain Week (October 4-10) is an opportunity to recognize health care supply chain professionals and honour their contributions to patient care and the organizations and communities they serve.

This year’s theme, “Powering Today, Preparing for Tomorrow,” recognizes the work of supply chain teams in meeting today’s needs while preparing for future challenges. At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, our Purchasing and Stores teams help ensure staff have the supplies and equipment they need to provide safe, quality care. From sourcing products and managing contracts to maintaining inventory and delivering supplies, their work supports patient care every day.

Over the past year, our Purchasing and Stores teams have:

• Adapted to changing trade conditions and provincial procurement requirements, with greater emphasis on sourcing from Ontario and Canadian businesses.
• Placed 17,902 purchase orders covering 937,834 products from more than 870 suppliers.
• Managed inventory and coordinated supply deliveries from four warehouses stocking 1,518 unique products.
• Replenished 3,402,008 individual stock items across the organization.
• Placed 298 capital purchase orders, representing approximately $32.9 million in capital investments.
• Managed and participated in 1,461 contracts, including 263 local contracts, to support procurement compliance and deliver best value for money.
• Supported 223 departments across the organization.

Thank you to our Purchasing and Stores teams for their dedication, expertise and the essential work they do to support our staff, patients, and community.

Occupational therapy is a health profession that empowers people of all ages to overcome barriers in their everyday lives so they can do more and live better.

Occupational therapists (OTs) provide personalized solutions to help people of all ages and abilities recover from an injury or illness, participate in day-to-day activities, and experience life to the fullest. By working with patients, their family members, and health care teams, OTs identify and address any barriers the patient may have with everyday activities. Together, the patient and their OT find solutions that will enable the patient to maintain function, regain skills, develop new skills, and much more.

For example, an OT may assess a patient’s ability to safely get dressed, use the bathroom, or complete a shower after experiencing a stroke or sustaining an injury. They may recommend adaptive equipment, such as a shower chair, raised toilet seat, or dressing aid, to make these activities safer and more manageable. An OT may also assess whether a patient can safely return home, identify potential fall risks, and recommend changes to the home environment. For patients who have experienced a decline in function, the OT may provide strategies to conserve energy, improve cognition and problem-solving, or compensate for changes in strength, balance, or coordination. OTs also work with families and the health care team to develop discharge plans and determine what supports or equipment a patient may need to safely transition home or to another level of care.

Please take a moment this month to express gratitude to all the amazing occupational therapists at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Care Group, and other health care organizations across the country for their contributions to patient care.

To learn more about Occupational Therapy, visit the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists website at www.caot.ca. To reach an OT at TBRHSC, please call ext. 6271.

Deadline for submissions is October 12, 2026.

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Shared on behalf of Rachael Shaffer, Interim Director, Nursing and Health Professions

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We are pleased to announce that this year’s Sharing and Caring Week will take place October 19 to 23, with the theme “17 Years of Making Every Voice Count.”

This year’s theme recognizes the collective impact of patients, families, staff, physicians, volunteers, and learners in shaping care. The theme provides an opportunity to celebrate key milestones, recognize the partnerships that have driven meaningful improvements, and reflect on the evolution of patient and family engagement. It also invites us to look ahead and reinforce our commitment to ensuring every voice continues to influence the future of care. The week will feature a variety of activities designed to be engaging and inclusive, while reflecting our organizational values of Diversity, Compassion, Excellence, Innovation, and Accountability. The main event, Sharing and Caring Expo, will take place on Friday, October 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Auditorium.

We invite teams to register a booth that highlights your initiatives, innovations, or improvements in patient care and experience. Booth ideas may include:

• PFCC action plans based on selected data and metrics
• Creative and interactive displays
• Demonstrations or tools that enhance care delivery
• Innovative processes that reflect our core values

To register your booth, please email TBRHSC.PFCC@tbh.net or call ext. 7322 with the following details:

• Booth lead/contact person
• Space requirements (floor/wall space)
• Number of tables needed
• Any setup assistance you may require

During the week of Sharing and Caring, Lunch & Learns and unit visits will be completed.

• Lunch and Learns – Monday through Thursday, we will host lunch and learn sessions focused on a variety or relevant topics.
  • Topics include:
    • Whiteboards
    • Meditech Expanse
    • Journey of an older adult in acute care
    • Pet Therapy
    • Patient Stories

Please watch for the poster and additional information about the Lunch & Learn sessions, including specific times and details, as we get closer to the week of the events. Lunch will be provided at all Lunch & Learn presentations.

• Unit visits – Throughout the week, we will be bringing coffee carts and snacks to various units to spread kindness and appreciation in small, meaningful ways.

Thank you in advance for your support and participation in making Sharing and Caring Week a meaningful celebration of our collective efforts. If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to reach out.

Booking a breast screening mammogram in Thunder Bay is now easier than ever. 

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre recently launched online booking for screening mammograms at the Linda Buchan Centre. The new option gives eligible people another convenient way to schedule an important part of their health care. 

Whether you’re fitting in your screening around work, family responsibilities or a busy schedule, you can now go online to view available times and choose one that works for you. 

This added flexibility follows the historic expansion of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). The starting age for self-referral was lowered from 50 to 40, giving more people the opportunity to access routine breast screening without requiring a referral from a primary care provider. 

Now, eligible women, Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people at average risk between the ages of 40 and 74 are recommended to get screened with mammography every two years through the OBSP.  

Those who would prefer to have their mammogram on the Screen for Life Coach, which provides cancer screening services at locations throughout Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, can continue to book by calling (807) 684-7777. 

Staying up to date with screening matters. Mammograms can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms, when it may be easier to treat. 

To book your breast screening mammogram at Linda Buchan Centre, visit tbrhsc.net/OBSPonline. 

To learn more about breast cancer screening, eligibility, and for a full list of screening locations in the region, visit tbrhsc.net/breast-cancer-screening. 

On October 4, we recognize the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S+).

This day honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people, while calling attention to the ongoing violence and systemic injustices experienced by Indigenous Peoples and their families.

In 2019, Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was released. The National Inquiry heard from more than 2,380 family members, survivors, experts and Knowledge Keepers. The Final Report identified persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses as being at the root of the disproportionate violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The report issued 231 Calls for Justice, which provide a roadmap for meaningful change.

We encourage TBRHSC staff to:

• Read Reclaiming Power and Place and learn about the 231 Calls for Justice and the experiences and truths shared by families and survivors.
• Consider displaying a red dress in a window, on a porch or in another visible location as an act of remembrance and awareness. Learn more about artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, which uses empty red dresses to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and draw attention to gendered and racialized violence. https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/
• Make space for and amplify the voices of Indigenous families, survivors, advocates and organizations working to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people.
• Share information and resources about MMIWG2S+ with your colleagues, families and communities. Building awareness is important, but meaningful change also requires continued learning, reflection and action.

Community Event:

The Ontario Native Women’s Association invites you to join in honouring and remembering Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls at the MMIWG Pow-Wow.

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Location: Mountain Bingo, 400 Anemki Dr, Fort William First Nation
Time: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
7:30 a.m. Sunrise Ceremony
11:00 a.m. Grand Entry

From October 4 to 10, 2026 we recognize Fire Prevention Week™. This year’s FPW campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging Is a Superpower” focuses on the everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer. The campaign stresses how important it is to BUY, CHARGE, and RECYCLE safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.

Use Your Charging Superpowers With These Six Safety Tips:

1. Cheap charger? Don’t chance it. Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer.
2. Soft surface? Hard pass. Charge on a hard, flat surface like a table, desk, or bare floor.
3. Fully charged? Time to unplug. Unplug your device when it is fully charged.
4. For tools and rides, charge outside. Charge large items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging.
5. Feels hot? Stop using it. Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sounds.
6. On a flight? Keep it in sight. When on a plane, keep devices where you can see them while charging. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on the plane. Tell a flight attendant if you notice a problem with your device.

This week is also an opportunity to share information about the importance of extinguishers and escape plans, as well as share fire safety tips such as:

• Develop escape plans that take everyone’s abilities into consideration and practice them regularly with everyone who lives in the home.
• Keep fire extinguishers in kitchens, basements, and garages, and know how to use them.
• Close doors at night to help slow the spread of fire and smoke.

Have questions or feedback? Contact Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness via email at mesha.richard@tbh.net.

Resources

Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKTWD) is an annual experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Ontario.

This year’s TOKTWD will take place on Wednesday, November 4. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is excited to welcome Grade 9 students from a variety of schools throughout the city. The day provides students with an opportunity to explore the diverse careers and services offered within the Hospital through interactive tours, demonstrations, and presentations.

Throughout the day, students are divided into groups of approximately 10 and guided by Human Resources through various Hospital departments. Each group visits pre-scheduled areas for a tour or demonstration. Departments that have participated in previous years include Medical Device Reprocessing Department, Operating Room, Emergency, Biomedical Engineering/Maintenance, Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging, Simulation Lab, Pharmacy, and Nutrition and Food Services. Participating in TOKTWD provides students with valuable insight into the wide range of career opportunities available within a hospital setting. It also offers an excellent opportunity for employee engagement by encouraging staff involvement and interaction with students.

The event promotes team building, collaboration, social interaction, productivity, and employee participation, while helping students gain a better understanding of the many roles that contribute to the delivery of health care.

Employees with children in grade nine are invited to enroll them in Take Our Kids to Work Day. The enrollment period will close October 23, 2026. Registration is limited to 40 participants and will be filled in the order received.

Registration deadline: October 23, 2026.

Please use the link below to access the information and forms you’ll need to complete and submit.
https://informed.tbrhsc.net/departments/human-resources/programs/take-our-kids-to-work-day

This October, in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re inviting you to make a difference while being a part of a collaborative work of art.

Join us in the lobby, across from Season’s Gift Shop, on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. to add your personal touch to a stunning paint-by-number masterpiece designed by artist Vik Wilen and created by Paintillio.

For just $20 per tile, you can paint your piece of the puzzle and watch the artwork come to life, one tile at a time. Every dollar raised will support breast cancer. Once the final tile is in place, the finished artwork will be auctioned, raising even more for the Northern Cancer Fund.

This initiative is part of our Luncheon of Hope celebrations – and the art piece will be brought to the event on October 16. Whether you’re an artist or haven’t picked up a brush since grade school, everyone is welcome.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) would like to recognize our September Hand Hygiene Champion.

Jaime Huston works as a Housekeeper on 2C In-Patient unit and says that her hand hygiene practices have became part of her routine. She does not see any barriers to completing proper hand hygiene as it protects patients and staff from the spread of infections.

Thank you Jaime.

Get Started with SharePoint

With the transition to SharePoint, we want to make sure you’re ready!

Join one of our drop-in sessions or check out our training resources to get started on your SharePoint journey.

Learn About SharePoint

Visit M365Hub.tbh.net or nwohealth.sharepoint.com/sites/M365Training to check out our education resources.

Join SharePoint Drop-In Sessions

On Wednesdays from June 10 to December 9, ask questions and get support for SharePoint. Visit the M365Hub training page at M365Hub.tbh.net for links.

SharePoint Training [All Staff]

• Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

SharePoint Training [Leaders and Owners]

• Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Contact Us

Give us a call at 807-684-6411, email us at Help.Desk@tbh.net, or submit a ticket on our Help Desk Self Service app for support.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at Help.Desk@tbh.net.