Photo: Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Switchboard team, in a recent photo where they won the iCare Impact Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Today we recognize the Switchboard Operators at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), an essential part of our healthcare team. They manage all incoming calls — connecting family members and patients, directing calls to the appropriate department, transferring calls, and providing important information. They also play a crucial role in managing emergency codes and paging staff.
Join us in thanking this amazing team and acknowledging the role they play in providing an exceptional care experience for patients and families.
If you have questions you would like answered, please send them to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net and we will do our best to address them at a future Town Hall.
If you’d like to access a recording or presentation from a previous Town Hall, visit the archive.
Thank you for your commitment to staying informed and engaged.
Reflections From the Front Lines provides our health care professionals with an opportunity to share stories and experiences about their role in providing exceptional care for every patient, every time.
We feature these each month during our Town Hall — a virtual venue designed to keep staff, professional staff, volunteers and leaners informed about what’s happening at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.
Check out our previous episodes below (or on the Hospital’s YouTube channel), and be sure to tune in to future Town Halls for more stories.
As of January 1, 2024, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario can issue penalties of up to a maximum of $50,000 for individuals and $500,000 for organizations that violate the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
Last year in Ontario three former hospital employees were charged under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) following investigations into unrelated alleged breach of patient privacy incidents. Offences under PHIPA can carry a maximum penalty of $200,000 and up to one year in prison.
Snooping in the electronic health records or paper documents of yourself, family members, friends or co-workers is considered a breach under (PHIPA).
Calling all staff who have an innovative idea that could enhance their everyday work, come and pitch it at the Good Morning Innovation Pitch Event!
This event takes place on June 17 at 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in Auditoriums A & B.
Event Concept
One representative will have 3 minutes to pitch the idea to a panel of innovation experts, who then will provide some feedback on what steps to take next to make that innovation idea a reality!
You will be supported every step of the way by the Innovation Team to put your ideas into a visual slide display.
This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase creativity and potentially implement new solutions that benefit us all. Please encourage your team to brainstorm and submit their ideas. Feedback will be given on the following areas:
Value to the Hospital
Originality/Innovativeness
Impact on Organization/System
Clarity and Presentation
Alignment to TBRHSC/RI Strategic Goals and Vision
Looking forward to seeing the sparks of innovation!
Submit your overarching pitch idea in 3 sentences in an email to tbrhsc.innovation@tbh.net
High school co-op student Carrie (right) pictured with staff member Rosemarie Harding (left) while on placement in Diagnostic Imaging at TBRHSC.
Did you know that Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) participates in the co-operative education placement program?
Co-operative education (also known as high school co-op) provides secondary school students with an immersive learning experience in a safe, culturally responsive environment. The co-operative education program aligns with our mission as an academic health sciences centre and our strategic priority Staff Experience, allowing students to learn about TBRHSC and to apply their skills and interests in different areas of the Hospital. Placements have been offered in various departments including Medical Device Reprocessing, Intensive Care Unit, Cancer Center, Cafeteria, Professional Practice, Nutrition and Food Services, Surgical Inpatient and Neurosurgery, Hemodialysis, Patient Portering, Housekeeping and Operating Room. Students are able to engage in unique learning opportunities that are not only memorable, but allow them to gain practical, hands on work experience that enhances their resume. In addition, the program can help students decide on a post-secondary career path, and may find themselves working at TBRHSC in the future!
Each student has a direct supervisor in their placement area, available to support them and answer any questions.
Here is what our supervisors have to say about the co-operative education experience:
Kerry Posselwhite, Manager, Base Hospital/Regional Trauma Program/NLOT/Upsala Nursing Station
“The Northwest Region Prehospital Care Program, Trauma program and Nurse Lead Outreach Team all had the privilege of having Preston, a grade 12 student from St. Patrick’s High School. In the short months Preston had with this placement, he was able to widen his knowledge in the Paramedic field, office environment, experience a routine workday with the Nurse Practitioners and gain knowledge while assisting in tasks with the Trauma program. While each day brought a new challenge, Preston never missed an opportunity to learn and gain new skills, and demonstrated that he was a team player and was always positive and willing to help. It was a pleasure having Preston and we wish him all the best in his future education.”
Laura Jurimae, Manager, 3A Surgery
“Having Kali on 3A Surgery was an absolute pleasure. This was the first time 3A had a co-op student on the unit. Kali consistently approached her work with a positive attitude, always arriving with a smile that set a positive tone for the day. Kali was proactive in seeking out tasks and projects beyond her assigned responsibilities. She demonstrated eagerness to learn and grow, consistently taking on new challenges. Kali’s tenure as a co-op student was marked by her outstanding work ethic, proactive approach, friendly demeanor, and commitment to continuous improvement. We appreciated having her as a part of our team, and we wish her luck in the future.”
Ron Garon, Manager, Perioperative Services
“Cameron came to the Operating Room (OR) knowing she wanted a career in health care, but was undecided on the path she wished to take; after her experience in the OR she has chosen nursing as her entry point into the healthcare industry. Cameron came prepared daily and researched the procedures she was going to be observing. The patients were extremely receptive to having a co-op student observe their procedure. Having a co-op student is rewarding for all parties involved and offers insight into areas most students would never be able to see.”
Katherine Tuomi, Manager, Diagnostic Imaging
“We had Carrie in Diagnostic Imaging for a co-op placement and she was definitely an asset. From day one, she was an enthusiastic learner and eager to help out in any area that she was needed. As Diagnostic Imaging encompasses many imaging modalities and specialties, we wanted to rotate her through and give her exposure to as many as possible so that she could make an informed future career decision. Carrie approached her tasks and our patients with a high work ethic, a positive attitude and a friendly “patient-first” demeanour which supported the TBRHSC vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. We were truly pleased to have Carrie as part of our Diagnostic Imaging team, and we wish her well in all her future endeavours.”
Edith Hart, Manager, Critical Care and Respiratory Services
“Ray and Nadia were awesome additions to the Intensive Care Unit team. They had many opportunities to learn all about critical care nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy and physiotherapy. It was a pleasure to have them on our team.”
Participating in a co-op placement at TBRHSC can help students see the possibilities that the future can bring and it assists us in developing our future workforce. Students create community connections while observing the value of education, and of being engaged, and compassionate members of the community.
Each semester the high schools receive a list of the available co-operative education placements. To learn more about future high school co-op placement opportunities contact our Human Resources Department at tbrhsc.humanresources@tbh.net..
Administrative Professionals Day (April 23) recognizes and celebrates the work of executive assistants, administrative assistants, clerks and other office professionals for their contributions to the workplace.
We’re calling on all administrative professionals in the Hospital and Health Research Institute to submit a high resolutionphoto of you or your team to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net by Tuesday, April 22at 4:00 p.m. These photos will be shared on the Daily Informed Newsletter and the Hospital’s socials to help celebrate this year’s edition of Administrative Professionals Day.
Shared on behalf of Dr. William Harris, VP, Medical and Academic Affairs
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Frank Potestio to the position of Medical Lead, Surgical Quality, effective April 1, 2025.
Reporting to the Department Chief of Surgery and working collaboratively with Administration, the Medical Lead is accountable for leading Surgical Quality initiatives delivered by the Surgery program.
The Medical Lead is responsible for establishing quality frameworks and processes across surgical programs and will ensure the viability of quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Potestio has held several leadership roles with NOSM University and Ontario Health and we welcome his ongoing leadership at TBRHSC.
I wish to also extend my appreciation to Dr. Andrew Smith who previously held this role and recognize the contributions he has made to advancing surgical quality initiatives.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Potestio to his new role.
In partnership with NOSM U, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) conducted the second annual Health Professions Preceptor Workshop on April 1. The purpose of this workshop was to support preceptorship and ensure that health professionals feel prepared to support students throughout the organization.
NOSMU presented two topics from their preceptor development series. Topics ranged from Precepting with Purpose: Building Strong Foundations through Orientation and Relationship-Building to The Art of Precepting: Strategies for Communication, Feedback, and Learner Evaluation.
More than 10 disciplines attended the day’s sessions with thirty attendees. Though the material is available for viewing online at anytime, (see link below) the workshop gave another opportunity to have various disciplines network with peers, and contribute to the advancement of preceptorship in health care education.
