All staff, professional staff, learners, and volunteers are invited to tune in, stay informed, and get involved as in our monthly Town Hall. This is your chance to hear the latest updates from across our Hospital and Health Research Institute — from strategic priorities to day-to-day operations — and to have your voice heard.

Past and Upcoming Town Hall Dates

September 17 @ 2:00 p.m. **Click to watch the recording**
October 15 @ 2:00 p.m. ** Click to watch the recording**
November 26 @ 2:00 p.m. **New Date! Via Microsoft Teams*
December 17 @ 2:00 p.m.
January 21 @ 2:00 p.m.
February 18 @ 2:00 p.m.
March 18 @ 2:00 p.m.
April 15 @ 2:00 p.m.
May 20 @ 2:00 p.m.
June 17 @ 2:00 p.m.

Got questions or feedback?

This is your forum. Ask questions live during the Q&A segment or submit them in advance to ensure the right people are available to respond.

Submit your questions by:

• Emailing TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net
• Asking in real time during the Q&A segment of the Town Hall.

Submitting questions in advance ensures the right people are available to respond.

Don’t miss it — we look forward to seeing you there!

If you’d like to access a recording or presentation from a previous Town Hall, visit the archive.

As everyone has access to Microsoft Teams, we will be removing Webex access from accounts starting Friday, November 14.

Please make sure to download your Webex recordings, and then DELETE them from your Webex account. This will let us know you have moved to Microsoft Teams!

Transition to Microsoft Teams

Use our Pre- and Post- Transition Checklists for a smooth transition from Webex to Teams.

Learn About Microsoft Teams

Go to M365Hub.tbh.net and look at our Education Resources for Teams.

Join Teams Drop-In Sessions

On Mondays from October 20 to November 24 (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.), ask questions and get support for Teams. Go to the M365Hub Training page at M365Hub.tbh.net for links.

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

Today we celebrate the Clinical Genetics Program team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Each year, they care for about 800 patients across Northwestern Ontario — from the Manitoba border to Wawa, including 69 northern First Nations communities.

Genetic counsellors are health professionals specially trained in medical genetics and counselling. They help individuals and families understand how genetics may affect their health, explore testing options, and provide guidance and support for informed decisions.

The TBRHSC team includes two master’s-trained certified genetic counsellors, a genetic assistant, a genetics coordinator, and a medical advisor, offering care through in-person, phone, and videoconference appointments.

Join us in thanking our Clinical Genetics Program for their dedication and compassion in supporting the health of our region! 

Learn more: https://tbrhsc.net/genetics

Shared on behalf of Bridge Northwest

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As Bridge Northwest continues preparing for the regional launch of Meditech Expanse, one key focus has been ensuring the right technology is in place to support staff and patient care.

This past month, hub events were hosted at hospitals across Central, East, and West Northwestern Ontario for our Device Discovery Fairs — interactive sessions where clinicians, IT staff, and leaders got hands-on experience with the tools that will support the new electronic health record (EHR).

Staff explored a range of options, including workstations on wheels, wall-mounted computers, keyboards, mice, and other essential devices that will bring Expanse to life on the frontlines.

These events weren’t just about testing equipment — they were about connecting people to the tools that will make their work more efficient, reliable, and patient-focused. The feedback gathered during the fairs will directly shape the next phase of planning as each hospital confirms its device needs.

What’s Next:

Over the coming months, local teams will work alongside Bridge Northwest’s Technical Readiness and Change Management groups to review and validate device needs across every department. This information will guide regional procurement in Spring of 2026 — ensuring every partnering organization is equipped and ready for the transition to Meditech Expanse.

The Centre for Complex Diabetes Care (CCDC) at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre provides enhanced support to patients with diabetes and that require more intensive treatment strategies. Specialized interprofessional teams within the CCDC use a coordinated approach to diabetes management and treatment to meet each patient’s individual needs and that of their families. Typically patients attend several different appointments throughout their course with the program depending on their specific needs. Often patients are also connected with other hospital programs due to their other medical conditions.  

In April 2025, the CCDC piloted a new patient flow model titled ‘Multi-disciplinary Clinics’ and now coined “Multi Clinic”. This new model aimed to provide patients who had difficulty attending appointments, numerous other appointments, and those who may have been through the program before. The goals of this new model were to improve attendance, decrease the amount of appointments and ensure timely access to the right clinician at the right time.

To do this, patients were scheduled throughout the clinic and multiple disciplines were present and available at the time of these appointments including Nurse Practitioner, Nurse, Dietitian, Social Work, Pharmacist, Indigenous Liaison, Occupational Therapist, and Physiotherapist. These clinics were trialed several times a month over the following five months. Data collected showed that attendance was better than with usual care and patients verbally expressed satisfaction with having the opportunity see multiple clinicians at the same appointment. Staff enjoyed improved collaboration at the time of the visit and less delays in patient care.  Due to the success of Multi Clinics, CCDC has increased the frequency of this style of care. Patients who attend the CCDC now have the option of this new model or the traditional stream of care. Go team!

As we recognize World Diabetes Day, we celebrate initiatives like the Multi Clinic model that embody this year’s theme of promoting access to quality diabetes care for all. The CCDC team’s commitment to innovation and collaboration reflects the global effort to improve outcomes and quality of life for people living with diabetes every day.

The Occupational Health and Safety Department is pleased to be offering the Moderna Spikevax to all staff, professional staff, and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre by appointment only.

The COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held every Friday starting October 31 until December 13, 2025.

Hours of operation are: 8: 00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m.

Appointments can be booked by calling the OHS department at extension 6212.

To be eligible for the vaccine, you must be a health care worker 18 yrs of age and 6 months (168 days) since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Staff must bring a piece of government issued identification in order to obtain the vaccine. Your health card or driver’s License is acceptable.

Ontario Health (Ontario Renal Network) has recognized the North West Regional Renal Program at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for its outstanding commitment to excellence in care for renal patients.

In 2024-25, the program made significant improvements in the delivery and management of kidney care services. These improvements reflect the dedication, collaboration and resilience of the programs front-line staff, physicians and Regional Renal Program leadership. The program continues to demonstrate an exceptional commitment to providing high-quality care for renal patients despite the ongoing pressures of our health care system.

Based on performance indicators set out by Ontario Health, the North West Regional Renal Program achieved or exceeded the following targets:

• Goals of Care Among Prevalent Chronic Dialysis Patients: Achieved a high annual growth rate of 9% during the 24/25 fiscal year – the third highest among all programs in the province;
• Deferred Dialysis: Surpassed the 75% annual target with a score of 84% in Q3 of the 2024/25 fiscal year;
• Goals of Care Completion: Surpassed 85% annual target and achieved a score of 87.4% for Q4 of the 2024/25 fiscal year;

Performance indicators measure how well programs deliver and improve patient care. As a tool, they help identify successes and guide improvements to ensure better outcomes for people living with kidney disease.

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 116 babies born at our Hospital during the month of October. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting https://bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre-info

Ethics in Everyday Care: Supporting Exceptional Care through Values-Based Decision-MakingSupporting Exceptional Care through Values-Based Decision-Making

Every day, patients, families, and health care teams at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) face choices that do not always have an easy answer. Whether it is deciding on a treatment plan or navigating differing opinions about what’s best for a loved one, these moments can be emotional and complex. That is where the Hospital’s ethics service can help.

Ethics is about doing what’s right — not just medically, but in a way that respects people’s values, beliefs, and experiences. The ethics service at TBRHSC supports patients, families, and staff in exploring difficult questions with compassion and clarity. “The ethics service helped us find a path forward that balanced safety with what mattered most to the patient,” shared one care team member. “It helped everyone feel heard.”

Consider this example: a patient nearing the end of life was torn between wanting to spend as much time as possible at home with family and accepting a treatment that might extend life but require a long hospital stay. The care team, along with the Bioethicist, helped the patient and family talk openly about what mattered most — comfort, time together, and dignity. Together, they reached a decision that aligned with the patient’s values and wishes.

This is ethics in everyday care — helping people make informed, values-based decisions that reflect what’s truly important to them.

At TBRHSC, ethics is woven into exceptional care every day. The Bioethicist and Ethics Committee, made up of staff and Patient Family Advisors, offer guidance and support for a wide range of situations — from bedside decisions to Hospital-wide policies.

During National Ethics Week (November 2–8), TBRHSC joins hospitals across Canada in recognizing the vital role of ethics in compassionate, patient-centered care — care that honours people’s values, builds trust, and supports the well-being of the whole person.