Everyone has been affected by cancer in some way – a family member, a friend, a colleague or maybe even you. Recent statistics show that 2 in 5 Canadians are expected to develop cancer in their lifetime. Since cancer is part of our lives and our everyday health conversations, it is important that you are aware of your cancer risk and how you can prevent it.

So where can you find reliable information about cancer prevention?

With technology available at our fingertips, it is often difficult to know what health information resources you can trust. My CancerIQ is a free online tool that was developed by Cancer Care Ontario and Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Using My CancerIQ, in less than 10 minutes, you can complete a series of questions to find out your personalized risk for developing breast, cervical, colon, lung, kidney and skin cancers.

The questions asked in each of the My CancerIQ assessments address factors or behaviours that research have shown to be linked to the risk of developing that specific type of cancer. As you work through the assessments, you will learn:

• What factors help to keep your risk of cancer down
• What factors increase your risk of developing cancer
• What you can do to manage or reduce your risk, including links to helpful resources
• Where appropriate, you will learn whether you should be screened for particular types of cancer, such as colon, cervical, and breast cancer. If screening is an option, your final assessment report will also give you links to screening resources in your community

What’s unique about this tool is that it uses Ontario data. When you complete one of the My CancerIQ questionnaires, you get a personalized report that highlights your risk of developing that type of cancer in comparison to Ontarians of the same sex who are 40 years of age and over. More importantly, your report will provide you with information about how you can prevent cancer by making specific lifestyle changes.

While specific cancer rates vary across the province, what all of the cancers included in the My CancerIQ tool have in common is that they have modifiable risk factors that can be affected by lifestyle. This is important since as many as half of all cancers in Ontario can be prevented by eliminating or reducing risk factors. And although My CancerIQ won’t tell you whether you’ll get cancer or not, it can help you focus on specific changes you can make to lower your cancer risk and live a healthier life.

Make your health a priority in 2022. Start the year off with an action plan to lower your cancer risk. Visit My CancerIQ at www.mycanceriq.ca to get a personalized assessment and learn more about cancer prevention.

This week’s Employee Donor Spotlight is shining on a long-time donor: Bettina from the Hospital’s Pharmacy department. She’s been an Employee Donor for 23 years!

“I started donating a long time ago to help fund for the new hospital and just never stopped.” she says, “I have always been grateful to have a regular income, a happy family and a home to call my own. Sharing a little makes me feel like I’m doing my part to help out.”

Bettina’s support not only helped build Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre back in the early 2000s, but she’s also continued to help fund vital equipment in all areas of the Hospital – meaning better health care for every patient.

Thank you, Bettina!

Employee Donors are Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre staff who donate through payroll deductions, helping to fund Hospital equipment in the area that means the most to them. Their dedication to better local healthcare is shown in both the hard work they do and their donations. Thank you to TBayTel, who matches annual Employee Donor contributions up to $7,500!

If you are a Hospital employee, you can sign up, too! Learn more at www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/imin

The nurses who graduated in the spring of 2021 participated in the second annual Nursing Skills Day in November at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The skills day involved hands-on education sessions that focused on reviewing various clinical skills, policies and procedures. This year, each group had to use the knowledge acquired that day to “find their way out” of the escape room. Each group did an amazing job by using critical thinking and team work to escape. Congratulations to the ‘Surgical Soulmates‘ for winning this year’s competition.

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 Section Head

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To support the move to Response Level Grey (Lockdown), our Essential Care Partner (ECP) guidelines have been reassessed and updated to balance the need for precautionary measure and the need to continue to keep ECPs an integral part of care provision. In addition, the guidance has been updated to include areas deemed “hot zones”, where ECPs are essential to care of patients. Currently, both the Emergency Department and Renal Dialysis unit are deemed as a “hot zone” and will need to follow the applicable “hot zone” rules as outlined in the updated (version #11) Essential Care Partner/Care Partner Guidelines.

Version #11 outlines the following:

1. All inpatients: are granted one ECP per patient, to decrease unknown transmission, with exceptions being vetted through unit managers to IMT.
2. Hot zones: will only have ECPs that are essential to the care of patients, with exceptions being vetted through onsite unit leadership.
3. Areas in outbreak: No ECPs unless special circumstances. Any requests for exceptions will need to be addressed through managers.
4. End of Life: There is no change to ECPs for palliative care.

Reminder, ECPs should be reminded of PPE requirements as per ECP guidelines and not be allowed to access the Cafeteria, Robins Donuts and Season’s Gift Shop. To support ECPs and as a reminder of requirements, ECP Safety Protocols Information tool has been created to ensure all ECPs are aware of the protocols when entering TBRHSC.

For your reference, the following supporting documents can be found on the iNtranet at https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/.

• Guidance Document – Essential Care Partner and Care Partner Guidelines, Version 11
• ECP Safety Protocols Information

Additional resources for COVID-19 positive ECPs or patients may be found on the iNtranet under COVID-19 Information Portal – Links and Resources: https://comms.tbrhsc.net/covid-19-information/

If further information is needed, please contact your manager.

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 Section Head

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In the event of COVID-19 positive patients not being able to secure their own means of transportation home following discharge from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), a process has been in place in coordination with Diamond Taxi services between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

An additional mode of transportation has now been arranged for after-hours transfers of COVID-19 positive patients who fall outside the above weekday timeline.

Granite Town Cars will provide transportation to discharged patients who are COVID-19 positive and are medically discharged from TBRHSC to home addresses within the City of Thunder Bay on an on-call / as needed basis.

Description of Service:

• Available Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am.
• 1-hour minimum notice of transfer is required.
• 1 patient per trip.
• Weekend transportation is available from both Diamond Taxi and Granite Town Cars with advanced notice but both are limited (based on other bookings and driver availability).
• Patients must be ambulatory (no wheelchairs).
• The patient will be required to print and sign a form from the driver which will only be used for invoicing purposes.

Cost:

• ($60) plus HST for each transfer to be billed to TBRHSC.
• The process and travel distance must be approved by the Patient Flow Manager or the Administrative Coordinator at TBRHSC to ensure cost containment.
• Granite Town Cars will NOT take cash as payment for this service
• Sending department must fill out Taxi slip inscribing ‘COVID -Granite Town Cars’.

Safety:

• Granite Town Cars must be informed that the patient has or is suspected to have COVID-19. As such, a CS-348 Consent Form (patient agreement to disclose health information) must be signed by the patient prior to the transport request being made;
• The patient must wear a Level 2 procedural mask and gloves (supplied by self or hospital) to board the vehicle
• The patient must remain masked and practice self-distancing where possible (not sitting in the front seat with driver). 
• Vehicles are equipped with hand sanitizer
• Granite Town Cars will provide its’ drivers with appropriate PPE and adhere to COVID-19 protocols

If required, transportation for COVID-19 positive patients can be arranged by calling the Office of Patient Flow at (807) 627-9052.

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

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

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Breaches of IPAC protocols in common spaces have been a suspected source of COVID-19 outbreaks. Please be mindful of IPAC protocols when using break rooms and adhere to the following guidelines for common areas such as lounges, break rooms and meeting rooms:

• Breaks should be staggered to minimize congestion;
• Abide by the posted reduced room capacity limits, ideally only one person at a time (specifically inpatient units);
• Use the cafeteria or alternate spaces (see below) if the department break room is at capacity;
• Maintain two meters of physical distance unless separated by a physical barrier;
• Level 3 or higher masks and eye protection must be worn at all times except when seated AND eating or drinking;
• Do not remove, move or add any furniture to a room;
• Cleaning supplies are available in each room. Staff are expected to clean surfaces before and after each use.
• Staff on work-isolation protocols must isolate during break/meal periods. 

In an effort to continue to provide additional spaces to staff working within the Hospital and to promote physical distancing, meeting rooms listed below will continue to be available during the lunch period (11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Monday to Friday).

Room	Location	Users
Forensic Mental Health Conference Room	1061	Forensic Mental Health Staff
Maintenance Conference Room	1354	Maintenance Staff
Cardiac Rehab	1444	Rehab Staff
Conference Room	1476	Suite 1400 Staff
Women & Children’s Conference Room	1524	Women & Children’s Staff
Common Room	1550	Patient Care Services Staff
Volunteer Services	2007	Volunteer Services, Seasons Gift Shop, Spiritual Care Services, HELP & Screening Staff
Group Therapy Room	2020	Adult Metal Health Staff
Group Therapy Room	2022	Adult Mental Health Staff
ICP Video Conference Room	2171	Integrated Cancer Program Staff
ICP Main Meeting Room	2178	Integrated Cancer Program Staff & 2nd Floor Admin Staff
Utilization Management Room 1	2355	ACU & Renal Staff
Utilization Management Room 2	2354	ACU & Renal
Renal Conference Room	2359	Renal Staff
Diagnostic Imaging Conference Room	2691	Diagnostic Imaging Staff
Conference Room	3004A	Cancer Centre Staff
Auditorium A	3021A	Open to everyone
Auditorium B	3021B	Open to everyone
Sim Suite café (outside SimSuite)	3rd Floor	Open to everyone
Executive Board Room	3043	3rd Floor Admin Staff
Surgical Day Care Meeting Room	3501	SDC or PACU Staff
OR Conference Room	3703	Operating Room & Surgical Day Care Staff
ICU Conference Room	3862	ICU Staff
984 Oliver Rd Meeting Rooms	Various	By departments in which the meeting room(s) exist
984 Oliver Rd. NOSM Classrooms	Various	By other TBRHSC programs at 984 Oliver Rd.
984 Oliver Rd., Medical Building	302B	Assessment Centre Staff

Thank you for supporting these efforts and adhering to COVID-19 protocols.

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

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

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As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Northwestern Ontario and across the province, hospitals are doing everything they can to ensure that patients can continue to receive the right care when they need it.

Effective Monday, January 17th, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) will temporarily expand the range of services provided by its COVID-19 Assessment Centre.

In addition to testing, TBRHSC’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre is offering clinical COVID-19 assessments.

Under the Ministry of Health’s guidance, assessment centres are adapting their testing spaces to begin providing care to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and who would benefit from a clinical assessment and treatment. These spaces will also serve as an Emergency Department (ED) alternative so that our staff can provide care to others who are seriously ill in our community.

Patients will be able to access this assessment through referral from the Emergency Department, Primary Care, Public Health or Telehealth Ontario.  Appointments must be made in advance. Walk-in appointments will not be available.

For those who meet eligibility requirements, Monoclonal Antibody Therapy is also available. Patients will be assessed by a nurse and physician and provided with symptom management advice or referred for additional services. This program provides treatment for outpatients with COVID-19 who are at high-risk of progression to severe illness. While the first line of defense against COVID-19 is vaccination, this treatment will help to address the growing number of hospitalizations in high-risk individuals.

Physicians who wish to refer a patient are asked to use the attached referral form, which is available for download at www.tbrhsc.net.

For more information, please contact monoclonalinfusionclinic@tbh.net.