Shared on behalf of Chad Johnson, Director, Pre-hospital Program, Emergency, and Critical Care Services
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Tiana Veal as Manager of Critical Care and Respiratory Services, effective May 4, 2026.
Tiana brings over a decade of critical care experience within our organization, with a strong track record in clinical leadership, operations, and quality improvement. Since November 2025, she has served as Acting Manager, providing effective leadership during periods of sustained high acuity.
Her background includes extensive frontline experience as an ICU Registered Nurse and Charge Nurse, along with key roles on the Medical Emergency Team and the Regional Critical Care Response Program. Tiana has also been instrumental in the development and implementation of our extracorporeal life support (ECMO) program, including advancing a “cannulate and transport” model, building interprofessional education, and establishing clinical guidelines to support this specialized service.
Tiana is well regarded for her collaborative leadership style, strong clinical judgment, and commitment to patient and family-centred care. She leads with a focus on accountability, continuous improvement, and supporting teams to deliver high-quality care in complex environments.
Please join me in congratulating Tiana on her appointment and in supporting her in this role.
The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.
Self-referral can be made to be seen by a Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine Physician, Social Worker, Kinesiologist, Dietician, and Lactation Consultant.
To be seen by an Obstetrician, a referral is needed from your primary health care provider or midwife.
During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.
TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 88 babies born at our Hospital during the month of April. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!
Did you know that Accreditation surveyors are experienced health care professionals, often in leadership roles, who bring clinical and operational expertise to assess quality, safety, and best practices? They observe and assess clinical and administrative processes through “tracers” which follow the journey of a patient, staff member, or process from start to finish.
What happens during an on-site survey? Surveyors observe and assess clinical and administrative processes through “tracers.” A tracer follows the journey of a patient, staff member, or process from start to finish. Example: An ER tracer follows a patient from triage to discharge to assess timeliness, safety, and quality of care. An HR tracer may follow the hiring process—from job posting to orientation and staff experience. The goal is to understand how care and services are delivered in real time and how well we meet Accreditation standards.
Who are the surveyors? Surveyors are experienced healthcare professionals, often in leadership roles, who bring clinical and operational expertise to assess quality, safety, and best practices.
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For more information about our upcoming Accreditation, please click here.
Accreditation Canada surveyors will be visiting Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre from May 11-14, 2026 to assess how well we are providing safe and effective care that aligns with national standards.
What Does it Mean to Me?
Accreditation involves everyone at TBRHSC. We all play a role in delivering the highest standards of care to our patients, and families — each and every day.
The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre is hosting A Walk for Healing – Heartbeat of the Drum on May 10, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Waverly Park and walking down Red River Road to Marina Park. This walk honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and carries forward the legacy of Frances Wesley’s original 2016 walk.
The more voices we have spreading the word, the stronger our community showing will be. Please feel free to post the poster on your bulletin boards, social media, and share it with anyone who may want to join us.
Congratulations Kristin Spafford from Medical Affairs! She is the winner of last week’s Accreditation Trivia. Kristin won a $25 gift card to Eat Local Pizza.
Keep an eye on iNformed for the weekly Accreditation Trivia question for your chance to win.
Accreditation Trivia – Previous Questions and Answers
Week 1 Question: What are the four pillars of the Strategic Plan?
Answer: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Patient Experience; Staff Experience; Research, Innovation and Learning
Week 2 Question: How do you report a patient safety incident or near miss?
Answer: Patient Safety Reporting console (Incident Learning System [ILS])
Week 3 Question:How do you report workplace violence?
Answer:
If an employee is harmed, Employee Incident Reporting System (OH&S Incident System) (part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])
If a patient is harmed, Patient Safety Reporting console (also part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])
The Moose Hide Campaign began in 2011 along the Highway of Tears in northern British Columbia, when co-founders Paul Lacerte and his daughter Raven Lacerte took a hunting trip that inspired a national movement. Deeply impacted by the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls, they created the campaign as a way for men and boys to take a stand and be part of the solution.
Today, the Moose Hide Campaign is a Canada-wide movement that invites all Canadians to commit to ending gender-based violence. Wearing a small square of moose hide symbolizes a personal pledge to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in our lives. It also encourages meaningful conversations, reflection, and action toward reconciliation and safer communities for Indigenous Peoples.
Participating in the Moose Hide Campaign is a simple but powerful way to show solidarity and support a future free from violence.
TBRHSC will be hosting an information board and will have Moosehide pins available for staff to take and wear on Wednesday, May 6 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., on the 2nd floor across from the Gift Shop. Stop by and show your support for this important cause.
I would like to begin this month’s Blog by letting you know about some of the challenges surrounding our budget, preparing you for accreditation, and acknowledging what the past few months have looked like across our organization.
We are four months into the calendar year and our capacity pressures continue. A prolonged flu and RSV season have pushed volumes up at a time when the broader system is already under pressure. We all recognize and appreciate the hard work and extra efforts of our teams to support the continuing patient flow and transitions. We will continue to work with our partners, including Ontario Health to problem solve and ensure patients receive timely care in the most appropriate setting.
On the topic of system pressures, as you may recall in my past blogs and Town Halls, I referenced budgetary processes. The Ministry has directed every Ontario hospital to find a path to a balanced budget over the next three years. Cuts at other hospitals across the province have been in the news, and the Ministry has told each and every hospital in the province to find low-risk savings that will help to modernize and strengthen the health care system for sustainability, while not impacting quality of care and access. We are working with Ontario Health and our partners to identify those savings. We do struggle with this work as we are the only regional tertiary academic hospital in Northwestern Ontario, operating with fewer resources than most of our peers serving smaller populations.
While I do not have all the answers today and this can feel unsettling, please know that I will keep you informed as decisions take shape, and tell you what I know when I know it. If you have ideas about efficiency in your area, send them to me. Many a times, frontline staff see things leadership does not. This will be a team effort.
Our Accreditation Survey is almost upon us. In two weeks it is our chance to showcase the important work that we do here each and every day. During the week of May 11th, surveyors will be walking around our facility, talking to staff and observe interactions with patients and families. Please take the opportunity to review the posted information at your unit and at the link here. If a surveyor approaches you, speak to the work you do every day. If you do not know an answer, say so and refer them to your supervisor or unit leader. That is a professional response. Accreditation is a chance to show outside reviewers what we already know about ourselves.
We all have a role to play in shaping the patient experience. Through the Family CARE grants program some of you have submitted ideas to better our care and the overall experience through funding support by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. When those grants come through and a unit gets a piece of equipment or a program improvement that makes care better, I want to be clear in recognizing the donors who make it happen. I am talking about the person who bought a 50/50 ticket because they believe in this Hospital. The family that wrote a cheque after a loved one was treated here. The estate gift from someone who is no longer with us but wanted their final act to be one of generosity to this region. Those are the people who fund the improvements you see at the bedside. They support us because they believe in the hard work that you all do.
Every piece of donor-funded equipment in this Hospital exists because someone decided that the people of Northwestern Ontario deserved better. So, when you see a Family CARE Grant land on your unit, take a moment to remember that it came from a person who cares and wanted to help you do your job better.
To every staff member, professional staff member, volunteer and learner here, thank you. Every day, you do make a difference.
As always, you can reach me directly at rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I appreciate hearing from you.
Congratulations to April’s Patient and Family Centered Care Shout Out (Volunteer Edition) Winners, Cathi McIlwain and Rosetta Brizzi!
Cathi is a dedicated volunteer with the Cancer Clinic at TBRHSC who brings compassion, warmth and a light that truly brightens the experience of our patients. Whether she’s offering a listening ear or quietly providing a coffee and a treat to someone, Cathi meets each person exactly where they are with kindness, empathy, and grace. She also provides that same care to the staff, stepping in wherever she can to lend a hand and allowing them to focus more fully on patient care. Cathi’s genuine joy and a heartfelt desire to help make a meaningful difference in the patient experience create a comforting presence for everyone she meets.
Rosetta is a long-time volunteer at TBRHSC and has received recognition from staff and patients for her dedication and compassion within the Paediatric department. Rosetta consistently goes above and beyond in her role, demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting children and their families during what can often be challenging times. Through thoughtful actions and small gestures, Rosetta’s presence enhances the Paediatric environment and supports the emotional wellbeing of those in care, bringing joy, distraction, and reassurance to patients, and helping to create a more positive and less intimidating Hospital experience.
The PALS Provider Renewal course is a fast-paced course. It is designed for proficient PALS providers who regularly direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies in critically ill or injured children and who holds a current PALS Provider certificate. This course assumes a comprehensive awareness, knowledge and skill proficiency in PALS concepts, and is best suited for providers who use these skills frequently and therefore require limited practice to be successful.
Learners will practice and apply their knowledge to case scenarios applying the proven systematic approach to pediatric assessment, treatment algorithms and coordinated high-performance team dynamics, in both team leader and team member roles.
