Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead

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To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, please ensure that all patients (inpatients and outpatients) and Essential Care Partners are wearing a procedure mask (level 3 or higher) while in the Hospital.

All patients and Essential Care Partners (ECPs) entering the Hospital:

• Will be provided with a mask (level 3 or higher) at either the Screening Desk or outpatient area including Emergency, Labor & Delivery, and outpatient clinics in other buildings;
• Outpatients and all ECPs must wear a mask at all times, and masks should be replaced when damaged, soiled or wet.

All inpatients must endeavor to wear a procedure mask (level 3 or higher):

• During all interactions with Hospital staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers;
• When being transported out of their room;
• When physical distancing of two meters is not possible (i.e. ambulating to shared washroom);
• Masks will be replaced daily or when damaged, soiled or wet.

Some exceptions may apply, please refer to the ‘Inpatient and Outpatient Mandatory Masking Guidance Document’ (https://comms.tbrhsc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Guidance-Document-Inpatient-and-Outpatient-Mandatory-Masking-December-15-2021.pdf) for further details, or contact your manager with any questions or concerns.

Procedure masks are currently available in all patient care areas and Stores will continue to work with departments to ensure a supply of masks are available.

Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping each other and our patients safe.

All Hospital COVID-19 updates are available on the iNtranet at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/

February is Black History Month in Canada, which provides an opportunity to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous nation it is today.

Learn more about Black History in Canada by visiting http://bit.ly/BlackHistory-Canada

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead and Adam Vinet, EVP, Patient Experience & Chief Nursing Executive, Planning and Operations, IMS Section Lead

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Our Hospital continues to review operational activities to facilitate safe and efficient staffing levels in our ever-changing environment, to safely care for our patients.

As part of our response efforts to support the latest surge in COVID-19 positive patient activity, we have been redeploying available staff on a shift-to-shift basis. We will continue to evaluate all operations to determine where we can temporarily reduce other services to redirect staff toward COVID-19 activities. Our first approach is always to seek volunteers, and if you have a willingness to be redeployed then we ask that you please inform your Manager. Redeployed staff will be supported and guided by a Practice/Education Leader or Manager to help coordinate a team approach to patient care. 

Effective Monday, January 31st, we will be expanding leadership coverage on the COVID-19 Unit to better support all staff who have been redeployed and to support the increased needs. The additional leadership support will be provided throughout the week and on weekends to augment the current leadership and the increasing work load.

We thank all staff for their co-operation and flexibility when being assigned to a different patient care area, department or assignment. You are demonstrating incredible commitment to your colleagues and our patients and families.

All Hospital COVID-19 updates are available on the iNtranet at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/.

January’s 50/50 jackpot closed in at $681,170 and Dan Sullivan from Marathon is this month’s lucky winner.  Daniel says he has been a regular ticket purchaser of the Thunder Bay 50/50, and already has an idea of what he wants to do with the winnings.

“After using some of the money to fix up our house, we definitely want to rescue another dog!” says Dan. “We don’t need all of this money to live comfortably, so I want to donate some back to the Hospital, and to some other organizations so we can help make a difference in other people’s lives, too!”

“Not only does another huge jackpot mean good news for the winners, but it’s great news for the Hospital, too!” says Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.  “February’s draw is now open, and since February is heart month, proceeds from the 50/50 will be going towards improving cardiac care in Thunder Bay.  The Cath Lab needs a new C-Arm, and we are hoping to offset a good portion of that cost with the dollars that come in through the 50/50”.

February Draw proceeds going towards Cardiac Care in Thunder Bay

Tickets for the February 2022 jackpot are now are available online only at www.thunderbay5050.ca:

• $10 for 5 numbers
• $20 for 30 numbers
• $50 for 150 numbers
• $75 for 300 numbers  (Best Value)

All proceeds from February’s ticket sales will be going to the Northern Cardiac Fund – Our Hearts at Home campaign, to help improve cardiac care in Thunder Bay. Currently, the hospital is in need of a new C-arm for the Cath Lab, so proceeds will help offset that cost.

** Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 24, 2022 to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on Friday, February 25, 2022.

Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca. Ticket purchasers must be present in Ontario to purchase and 18 years old or older. The Thunder Bay 50/50 continues each month with the Grand Prize drawn on the last Friday of the month.

2022 Lottery licence RAF1222518

Video – Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation calls the winner of the January 50/50 draw.

Access the video here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ebrOq48Do
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UnkpmLMJCPFEc14tjT3ymOpLGWMyUW7x/view?usp=sharing

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared on 1A Oncology at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) as of Friday, January 28th. All restrictions are in place.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff

and visitors. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak have been isolated with appropriate additional precautions. Essential Care Partners will only be permitted on a case-by-case basis, following the process outlined in the Care Partner/ Essential Care Partner Guidance Document.

Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to continue applying routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, cleaning shared equipment and the appropriate screening of all patients. Please set an example to staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence. Staff with questions regarding potential exposures should contact Occupational Health and Safety.

Notice will be sent when the outbreak is declared over.

For more information, please contact Infection Prevention and Control by calling 684-6094

Are you a healthcare worker looking to:

• Improve Your Well-being?
• Perform Your Best?
• Make a Bigger Impact?

You’re in the right place.

Wellness Together Canada presents MindWell for Healthcare Workers.

MindWell for Healthcare Workers is an online learning experience designed to teach you the tools to feel confident and capable, remain calm amidst chaos and build resilience and well-being.

Short, simple, and effective lessons are provided in 4 weekly modules designed to give you maximum results in the least amount of time. These modules can be completed at your own pace.

Sign up today to see positive change!

Visit https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA/healthcare-workers to register.

Program Start Date: Monday, February 14th
Registration Closes: Saturday, February 19th

Designed for healthcare workers by healthcare workers.

Presented by Heart & Stroke and HeartLife

This webinar is for health professionals across the continuum of care, people with lived experience of heart failure, family members and care supporters of persons with lived experience.

Date: February 8, 2022

Time: 12:00 – 13:00 hr EST

Presenters:

Jillianne Code, PhD
Person with Lived Experience
Assistant Professor of Education at the University of British Columbia

Pascale Lehoux, PhD
Psychologist, Division of Cardiology,?Center Universitaire de Montréal (CHUM)

Vidya Raj, MB ChB,
Psychiatrist, Heart Minds Clinic, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Calgary
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary

Moderators:

Amanda Nash, RD
Project Lead – Lived Experience Engagement and Support, Heart & Stroke

Marc Bains, BBA
CoFounder, HeartLife Foundation, British Columbia

Registration: To register for this webinar, please click here

Intended Audience:

Health professionals across the continuum of care, people with lived experience of heart failure, family members and care supporters of persons with lived experience. Heart & Stroke staff, members of the public, and system leaders may also find this webinar informative and helpful. All are welcome to join. This free event is an open invitation and may be forwarded to interested parties

About this presentation:

Heart failure is a complex medical condition placing significant burden on the individual and their family. In addition to the physical impact, there is an impact on social, emotional and mental health. When treating heart failure, it is important to take a wholistic approach to care. People living with heart failure as well as the health care professionals who care for them have all reported that mental health support and services are a significant gap in heart failure systems of care. The purpose of this webinar is to raise awareness and normalize, educate and encourage health care professionals to incorporate mental health into routine care and to encourage people living with heart failure to raise concerns about their mental health with their health care team and seek the support they need to optimize all aspects of their health.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe current landscape and challenges in addressing mental health as part of heart failure care
• Discuss opportunities to normalize and integrate mental health into practice and apply aspects of trauma informed care into the role of a heath care professional
• Identify practical actions for both health care professionals and people living with heart failure to address mental health
• Improve health outcomes through practical tips, tools and implementation strategies

Language
This webinar topic will be presented in both English and French, on separate dates. If you are interested in announcements regarding our French language webinars, please join the mailing list at the bottom of this webpage.

For any questions or to submit questions to our panelists beforehand, please e-mail KTHP@heartandstroke.ca

Please note that this webinar will be recorded and available for viewing on the Heart & Stroke YouTube Channel.

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead and Ron Turner, Interim Vice President of Patient Programs Director of Acute Medicine, Stroke and Seniors’ Program

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Please be advised that the full-time Patient Advocate role has been extended until June 30, 2022.

The Patient Advocate is a resource for all patients, their care partners, staff, leaders, physicians and volunteers of the Hospital as they assist patients and their care partners (CP) to navigate a complex health care system.

The role of the Patient Advocate is to help improve the quality of patient care and to support an exceptional experience for patients and their loved ones. Timely advocacy services are essential for our patients, care partners and staff as the Patient Advocate can:

• support mediation during challenging situations;
• de-escalate anxiety and frustration, and minimize formal complaints and litigation;
• improve patient safety, quality of care and patient flow;
• improve the patient, staff and physician experience and satisfaction;
• protect the reputation of TBRHSC; and
• expedite the appeals process for patient/Essential Care Partner (ECP) access.

Throughout the pandemic, the Patient Advocate has also played a pivotal role with ECP support and access and has been responsible for the ECP Appeals process. ECPs directly affect the physical, emotional and psychological well-being and safety of patients, and with current ECP/CP restrictions, it is essential that ECPs are able to continue to support our patients.

Information about the Essential Care Partner (ECP) Appeals Process can be found at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Guidance-Document-Essential-Care-Partner-and-Care-Partner-Guidelines-January-20-2022-v.11.pdf

The Patient Advocate is available Monday to Friday, from 08:00-16:00 and can be reached at 684-6211 (office) or 629-3887 (cell), or through a referral in Meditech.