The Centre for Complex Diabetes Care team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre wears blue to raise awareness of diabetes, its risk factors and the importance of having access to the right information and care.
The theme for World Diabetes Day (November 14) is Diabetes and Well-being. With appropriate access to diabetes care and support for their well-being, everyone with diabetes has the chance to live well.
Millions of people with diabetes face daily challenges managing their condition at home, work, and school. They must be resilient, organized, and responsible, impacting both their physical and mental well-being. A new global survey conducted by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reveals that 77% of people living with diabetes have experienced anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition because of their diabetes. Diabetes care often focuses only on blood sugar, leaving many overwhelmed. This World Diabetes Day, let’s put well-being at the heart of diabetes care and start the change for a better diabetes life.
To learn more about diabetes care in Northwestern Ontario, visit bit.ly/TBRHSC-CCDC.
When Cecil Mendowegan from Longlac, Ontario, got the call on October 4th that he was the winner of the Thunder Bay 50/50 Early Bird prize for $20,000 – the largest Early Bird win outside of the big December draw, he couldn’t believe it. “This will really help with bills for Christmas,” he said, adding that he’s looking forward to treating his family to a special trip to celebrate. For Cecil, who’s been faithfully buying tickets for over a year and a half, this win is about more than just the prize money, it’s a chance to support a hospital that holds a special place in his heart.
Cecil knows firsthand the importance of quality care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; he’s been a patient there himself. For him, buying Thunder Bay 50/50 tickets isn’t about taking a gamble; it’s a meaningful way to support the care that so many people across Northwestern Ontario rely on. “I’ve never been to a casino in my life. I didn’t start buying tickets to win, I just wanted to help the hospital,” Cecil shared. Every ticket he buys feels less like a shot at winning big and more like a way to give back, knowing that his support goes toward life-saving equipment and essential programs for his community.
Every month, Cecil drives in from Longlac to the Thunder Bay 50/50 store to buy his tickets. “I like paper tickets and talking to the friendly staff,” he shared. Without a computer or any desire to do business online, the in-store experience has become a monthly tradition.
For Cecil and so many others, the Thunder Bay 50/50 is an opportunity to support healthcare initiatives that matter. As one of our largest Early Bird winners to date, Cecil’s story shows that giving back to the hospital and supporting your community is a win-win for everyone. “It’s a wonderful feeling to know the lottery is making such an impact,” he said.
As Cecil and his family plan their holiday season, we’re reminded that each ticket you buy helps strengthen healthcare for everyone in Northwestern Ontario. Thank you to all who support the Thunder Bay 50/50 – your participation makes stories like Cecil’s possible.
On November 14, we celebrate Genetic Counsellor Awareness Day. This day allows us to recognize and appreciate the hard work of the dedicated Clinical Genetics Program team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Genetic counsellors are health professionals with specialized training in medical genetics. The Clinical Genetics Program offers a range of services, including the assessment and diagnosis of genetic conditions, providing medical information about these conditions, discussing the likelihood of passing them on, and offering management guidance. Additionally, the program arranges and interprets genetic laboratory test results. Patients referred to the Program, meet either a genetic counsellor or a geneticist, depending on the specifics of their referral.
Join us in expressing gratitude to the Clinical Genetics Program for their invaluable contributions! For more information about our Hospital’s Clinical Genetics Program, visit https://tbrhsc.net/genetics.
Members of the Substance Use and Addictions Project would like to thank everyone who attended the screening of ‘A Sobering Story‘ at SilverCity Cinema on Thursday, November 7.
Over 242 Hospital staff, family and friends watched this locally produced documentary which unveiled the challenges surrounding substance use and addictions within Thunder Bay through content sharing and personal stories. This initiative was provided to assist our Hospital’s goals of reducing stigma around substance use and addictions.
For those who didn’t have an opportunity to see the documentary, but would like to, visit https://www.asoberingstory.com/screenings.html to purchase tickets for several upcoming screenings later this month.
Shared on behalf of Phil Thompson, Director, Support Services
On November 12, 2024, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) issued a 72 hour strike notice.
A labour disruption (strike) may not necessarily take place however, as of Friday November 15, 2024, workers will be in a legal strike position. In the event a labour disruption does take place, Canada Post will not operate.
Mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted. Any mail and parcels within the postal system during a work disruption will be secured and delivered once operations resume. At this time, we recommend time sensitive Canada Post Mail be sent via courier to avoid delivery disruption.
TBRHSC Mail room will continue mail delivery to Canada Post however, once a labour disruption is announced, TBRHSC Mail Room will cease Canada Post mail pick up from departments.
Time sensitive items requiring same day delivery, or outside of Thunder Bay will be sent via Purolator (note- Purolator will not deliver to PO box)
Items within Thunder Bay, requiring delivery within a 2-3 day window will be sent via local Courier.
Please bring items down to Shipping/Receiving with full mailing address. Items requiring same day delivery, Purolator cut off time is 2pm.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Jennifer Svane Jennifer.Svane@tbh.net ext 6202.
Sent on behalf of Justin Garofalo, Interim Vice President, Corporate Services & CFO and Jeannine Verdenik, Vice President, People & Culture
As we embrace the winter season, it is critical to prioritize pedestrian safety. Especially in adverse weather conditions and times of reduced visibility. Our collective responsibility towards ensuring safe access to the Hospital is paramount. This memo is a reminder of our commitment to ensuring safety within our community. By adhering to travel practices, we contribute to a safer environment for everyone.
Pedestrian Safety Guidelines
Designated Sidewalks & Crossings All pedestrians are to utilize official access sidewalks and designated pedestrian crossings. These areas are designed to enhance safety and visibility and receive added snow and ice control measures.
Visibility You may not be immediately visible to vehicular traffic. It is important to wait for vehicles to come to a complete stop and acknowledge your presence before proceeding to cross roadways. During the winter months, when visibility may be reduced due to daylight savings or weather conditions, it is crucial to travel along designated sidewalks and crossings.
Stop for Pedestrians When travelling by vehicle, stop for pedestrians waiting to cross a roadway. We emphasize the importance of safe driving in adverse weather conditions. Allow ample time to stop when approaching designated pedestrian crossings. Please encourage staff to reduce speed on hospital property and exercise increased caution at pedestrian crossings.
Key Takeaways:
Staff are required to travel onto and off the property only via official access routes.
While travelling on the property, please adhere to the use of sidewalks and designated crossings.
While travelling by vehicle, stop for pedestrians to cross a roadway.
We thank everyone who continually exercise all measures of caution when entering and exiting Hospital property. We all share in the responsibility of keeping our workplace safe and together we can ensure that our property remains a safe zone for all staff, patients and families, and the greater community.
For more information, please refer to OHS-os-253 Slips, Trips and Falls Prevention Policy.
Pictured (L-R) Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO Health Sciences Centre and CEO Regional Health Research Institute, Allison Pages, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Donna Yocom, Foundation Grant Committee Member and Foundation Board Director and Foundation CEO Glenn Craig.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is proud to announce the approval of over $6.6 million in funding for essential equipment at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. This funding was made possible through the generous contributions of our donors, event participants and proceeds from the incredible success of the Thunder Bay 50/50 draw. Departments throughout the Hospital applied for grants to acquire new equipment and upgrade essential tools, all aimed at enhancing the exceptional care provided to patients.
“We understand that the process of evaluating all the grant submissions is no small task,” says Donna Yocom, Grant Committee Member. “Our Committee diligently reviews each request, prioritizing the most pressing needs to ensure the greatest impact on patient care. While we wish we could approve every submission, funding limitations make that challenging. However, thanks to the generosity of our amazing donors, event participants and the success of our 50/50 draw, we’ve been able to approve more grants than ever before.”
In the past five years, over $27 million in funding has been granted to the Hospital. This year, a total of 36 grants were approved for funding ranging from $7,000 to over $750,000. Some of these items include:
$500,000 to install a new linear accelerator to enhance cancer treatment.
$500,000 for a new Cardiovascular Imaging System, vital for timely diagnoses.
$434,034 for trauma care equipment impacting the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Operating Room, and Labour & Delivery.
$271,418 for orthopaedic equipment to meet the growing demand for surgeries.
$238,300 to replace outdated or unsafe equipment in NICU, Paediatrics, Labour & Delivery, and Maternal Newborn.
In addition to these key items, $1,583,020 was funded to support essential equipment and upgrades in Diagnostic Imaging. Some of these items included:
1.5T MRI Scanner Upgrade: Accounting for 45% of the workload in the department, this upgrade is essential to maintain consistent, quality care for patients who require MRI diagnostics.
SPECT Camera Replacement for Nuclear Medicine: As the only Nuclear Medicine Department between Winnipeg and Sault Ste. Marie, this upgrade will enhance image quality and efficiency for the 5-10 patients imaged daily during procedures like bone scans and gastric emptying studies, better improving overall patient comfort.
Drager Fabius MRI Compatible Anesthesia Machine: This new state-of-the-art equipment will enable safe sedation for adults and children undergoing MRI scans requiring anesthesia. Currently, patients may experience longer than average wait times for sedated MRI scans to ensure that the resources required are available. These longer wait times can force patients to travel to Southern Ontario. This upgrade will improve patient care and reduce travel.
“Our MRI department is extremely busy, serving approximately 16,000 patients each year and performing over 3,500 scans monthly,” says Kati Tuomi, Manager, Diagnostic Imaging. “These investments in state-of-the-art equipment and technology will significantly improve our diagnostic services and allow our patients to access tests close to home.”
The grants support not only our local community but also regional areas, as our programs reach other hospitals across Northwestern Ontario. Funding has been approved for cancer program equipment in Terrace Bay, Fort Frances, and Kenora.
“The grants established by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation enable our Hospital to be more responsive to the needs of patients and families in Northwestern Ontario, said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “The incredible generosity of our donors and the continuing work of the Foundation demonstrates our community’s commitment to enhancing care and supporting our Hospital’s vision of Exceptional care for every patient, every time.”
For a complete list of approved grants, please see the attached PDF.
Shared on behalf of Jennifer Pugliese, Director / Information Technology
We are thrilled to announce the winner of our Cyber Awareness Month draw! 🎉 Throughout October, we celebrated Cyber Awareness Month by encouraging everyone to enhance their knowledge of cybersecurity.
And the Winner Is…Congratulations to Toria Baranyk! You have demonstrated exceptional knowledge and commitment to cybersecurity, and has won $100 Amazon Gift Card!
Thank you to all participants. Remember Stay Cyber Aware!
Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing journey. We encourage everyone to continue learning and practicing safe online habits. Stay tuned for more events and resources throughout the year!
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