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.
In this episode, we hear from Matthew, a Pharmacist, and Kristi, a Pharmacy Technician, from the Renal Department’s Pharmacy team. Matthew and Kristi share a patient story that illustrates how care coordination can help deliver care closer to home and why it is so important for patients and their families.
In this episode, we hear from Casey Ruberto, a kinesiologist with our Cardiac Rehab program. Casey shares how connecting with patients and providing empathy, compassion and respect in everything we do, leads to positive outcomes.
In this episode, we had the opportunity to connect with Judy Martinsen, a Patient Flow Operation Coordinator at our Hospital. Judy shares a pair of compelling patient stories from behind the scenes of Admitting and patient flow.
In this episode, we hear from James Stevenson, a member of the Security team here at our Hospital. James shares a touching story about how he helped contribute to a positive outcome for a patient in Adult Mental Health.
In this episode, we hear from Savanna Boucher, Indigenous Care Coordinator and Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Coordinator who will share a story about the positive outcome they saw when they incorporated Traditional Medicine into a patient’s care plan.
Desiree Towedeo, Indigenous Care Coordinator, shares a story about how she provided culturally safe care to a patient that led to improved health outcomes during their stay, and how meaningful her role as an Indigenous Care Coordinator is to her.
In this episode, we hear from Megan Valente, Coordinator of Volunteer Services. Megan shares a patient story that highlights a new initiative and showcases how volunteers play a crucial role in the patient experience.
In this episode, we will hear from Michelle Opaski, a Mammographer who works on the Screen for Life Coach. Michelle shares a patient story that highlights how bringing cancer screening services closer to home allows individuals to prioritize their health and detect cancer early.
In this episode, we hear from Nikki Cooper, and Kelti Matson – both Registered Nurses from the Peritoneal Dialysis Renal team. Nikki and Kelti have a patient story that highlights how providing education, compassion, and respect, along with cross-department collaboration, allowed for exceptional patient care.
In this episode, Lyllian Stavropoulos, Co-ordinator of Specimen Collection and Dispatch in Laboratory Services at our Hospital, shares a patient story with us.
In this episode, Ashley Hill, a Registered Practical Nurse in the Emergency Department, speaks about her experience with the cultural safety training called, Repairing the Sacred Circle. Repairing the Sacred Circle was designed, developed and launched by N’doo’owe Binesi at St. Joseph’s Care Group in 2022 with the support and guidance of the Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin – Elders Council.
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Laura Power, an ObGyn at our Hospital. Dr. Power provides us with a look into the interprofessional and comprehensive care available at the Maternity Centre for patients in Thunder Bay and across the region.
In this episode, Mike Heerema, the Critical Care Staffing and Wellness Coordinator in our Intensive Care Unit, tells us about the Tokens of Love initiative for patients and families.
In this episode, we hear from Jessica and Jolene from the Regional Cancer Program at our Hospital.
In this episode, Danielle McLean, a Registered Nurse from the Intensive Care Unit at our Hospital, shares a patient story with us.
Care Bus services are winding down for the season, with the last day of operation on March 31, 2026.
The Care Bus in Thunder Bay is a free, mobile warming center and outreach service operated by NorWest Community Health Centres from late fall to early spring. It offers a warm space, hot meals, harm reduction supplies, and transport to services daily including TBRHSC.
For information, please call (807) 632-9732.
The Care Bus team is extending a thank you for all those involved in working to keep people safe, warm, and connected to the services they need.
Employee Donors are Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre staff who donate through payroll deductions, helping to fund Hospital equipment & upgrades in the area that means the most to them.
Each month, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation will feature some of the incredible Employee Donors in the Employee Donor Spotlight!
March’s Employee Donor is Jenelle Dawson, Development Assistant – Events:
“I became an Employee Donor because giving back is something that truly matters to me. Working in Events at the Health Sciences Foundation is such a fun and rewarding experience – I get to connect with incredible community partners who are just as passionate about making a difference in healthcare. Being part of that energy inspired me to give back in my own way through Employee Giving. It might feel small, but it’s a powerful way to support and be part of real impact in our community”
If you’re a Hospital employee you can sign up, too! Learn more here. Did you know? Tbaytel, matches annual Employee Donor contributions up to $7,500!
Are you already an Employee Donor and want to be featured in the Spotlight? Let us know, and you’ll receive a coffee card donated by Robin’s and a gift card donated by Sleeping Giant Biscotti! Contact, Lindsay Puhalski, Development Assistant, Philanthropy at 807-684-7106 orlindsay.puhalski@healthsciencesfoundation.ca.
We’re delighted to announce that the renovation of our Robin’s Donuts store at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is complete, and we are back to full operations. We sincerely thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this time.
Starting April 2026, our store will be freshly baking products on-site, ensuring you enjoy the best taste and quality. This Spring, we’re also expanding our menu to include flatbread pizza and a wider selection of grab-and-go options — perfect for a quick snack or meal on the move.
There are limited blue STAXI or other wheelchairs in the Main Lobby for patients and others, forcing them to wait until a chair is returned before they can get to their appointments in the Hospital.
The blue Staxi wheelchairs were purchased through funds from the Hospital and the Volunteer Association for the volunteers to use for the transport of patients and others to and from the Main Lobby.
If you see any blue Staxi wheelchairs in or around your unit/department/an in-patient room, please see that they are returned to the Main Lobby as soon as possible or contact the volunteer at ext. 4304.
Shared on behalf of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
Rita, a breast cancer survivor, was well known in the pool community. She and her sisters enjoyed the sport together, playing in women’s and mixed leagues in halls around Thunder Bay – even winning trips to Las Vegas to compete in tournaments.
When Rita passed in 2021, her family decided to commemorate her love for life and fun by gathering people together to do what she loved best – hosting their first pool tournament in her honour in 2022.
This year on May 1 to 3, 2026 join us at Elks lodge for our 5th annual Rita Bannon Memorial Pool Tournament. $50 entry fee for those who are playing, and $10 to enter into the party upstairs on Saturday!
For more information, please contact Daryl-Lynn at 807-251-3412 or d-gustafson@hotmail.ca.
The conference built for the people training Northern Ontario’s next health professionals.
Northern Constellations is NOSM University’s annual faculty and preceptor development conference — three days of hands-on learning, peer connection, and continuing medical education for educators and health professionals working in Northern Ontario. Participants will have opportunities to develop teaching and leadership skills, explore clinical best practices, and connect with colleagues from across the region.
This year’s theme, Adapting to our Changing Environment: Planetary Health, AI and Technology, anchors a program of keynote addresses, interactive workshops, simulation training, and a pre-conference Leadership Forum.
Register by March 22 to be entered in the VIP Early Registration Draw — prizes include travel reimbursement (up to $600), two nights of accommodation, and registration reimbursement.
Dates: April 30 – May 2, 2026 | Delta Toronto Airport Hotel, Toronto, ON
Register today: event.fourwaves.com/nc2026 Registration Deadline: April 23, 2026 VIP Early Registration Draw Deadline: March 22, 2026
Please be advised, we have revised the Hospital’s policy QM-80 Quality of Care Reviews.
Actions Required
Managers – Review this memo and the attached poster with your staff during Safety/Quality Huddles and post in your department. The approved updated policy is attached for reference and is now available on the iNtranet.
Key Policy Changes
Policy Statement Change: Focus on “Patient Safety” changed to “Just Culture”, and learners added to the employees listed.
New Definitions Added:
Clinical Debrief (aka “Hot Debrief”): Following a critical incident, a meeting to summarize the case, determine what went well and opportunities for improvement, and to highlight where actions are required.
Critical Incident: Unintended event, resulting in death or serious disability, injury or harm, and does not result from patient’s underlying medical condition or from a known risk inherent in providing treatment.
Incident Triage Team (ITT): A group of leadership who will meet within 48-72 hours of a critical incident to determine if a Quality of Care (QOC) Review is required, and if so, what type of review.
QOC Reviews: Further defined as Departmental Reviews, Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) Reviews, Critical Incident and Process Reviews for systemic issues.
Procedural Updates:
Procedure 5.1:Updated to include reference to ITT.
Procedure 5.2 & 5.3: Clarification provided regarding Quality of Care Information Protection Act (QCIPA)-protected reviews.
Procedure 6.2: Insertion of Clinical Debriefing process.
Procedure 6.3: Updated requirements of review and classification of incident.
Procedure 6.4: Insertion of process for consultation with ITT and determining necessity of QOC review.
Procedure 6.8: Clarification to whom information pertaining to reviews can be disclosed.
Procedure 7: References updated; information on debriefing included.
Appendix A: Incident Review Process Flowchart.
Appendix B: Clinical Debriefing Guide (S.T.O.P.).
Key Process Reminders
Please see the attached poster. Please email us should you have any questions at TBRHSC.QualityandRiskManagement@tbh.net.
