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

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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 our Hospital, a process has been in place in coordination with Diamond Taxi services. Diamond Taxi has a dedicated vehicle that is available Monday to Friday, from 0900h-1700h. This vehicle is to be booked with 24-hour notice whenever possible.

In exceptional circumstances, Diamond Taxi will consider a transport request with a minimum one-hour notice and/or will pre-book a weekend transport.

Cost:

• The cost of transportation is $100 per hour plus HST, plus the fare, as determined by the taximeter. These costs begin at the time of dispatch and end when the fleet vehicle returns to base;
• The process and travel distance must be approved by the Patient Flow Manager or the Administrative Coordinator to ensure cost containment;
• Diamond Taxi will NOT take cash as payment for this service;
• The sending department is responsible for the transportation cost.
  • The sending department should document the cost as a potential recoverable COVID-19 expense.

Safety:

• Diamond Taxi 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 to board the fleet vehicle; 
• Diamond Taxi will provide its’ drivers with appropriate PPE.

If required, transportation for COVID-19 positive patients can be arranged by calling the Admitting Department at (807) 627-9052.

Sent on behalf of Help Desk

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This is a follow-up to our November 19th email regarding fax failures.

We have been working with Tbaytel for the last few months to troubleshoot this issue and we believe we have a solution. The line errors are coming from the main circuit which is coming in from Oliver Road. 

This is the same circuit that LU shares with us, and it appears that they are starting to have the same issues.  

What we found was the failures were happening on some long distance faxes. Even though the line clarity was acceptable when the lines were tested, the distortion got magnified when it hit the Tbaytel exchange (the exchange is what relays the calls to long distance providers). That explains why it was only happening on some long distance calls.

To test the bad circuit theory, last month we had Tbaytel cut 2B and 2C fax printers over to a newer circuit (one that comes in through Golf Links Road).  As soon as we did this, the fax failures stopped. 

It has taken a while to schedule the fax line change over to the new Circuit, but we are please to let you know it will happen today (January 13th).  Tbaytel will be working in our phone room most of the day to do this. 

Below are the details:

Work To be done – move over fax numbers to newer circuit
Time work will occur – Thursday, January 13th – they may need to come back for several days to complete work.

Lines that will be cut over to new circuit (these are the priority lines that impact faxing – we will have Tbaytel cut over all external lines next)

Phone #	Location
346-8101	Admitting
346-8073	Adult Mental Health
684-5906	Ambulatory Care
346-8136	Cancer Centre Reception
346-8095	Diagnostic Imaging
346-8113	Emergency Ambulance Desk/C Area
346-8061	Forensic Mental Health
346-8074	Intensive Care Unit
346-8169	Labour Rooms
346-8057	Maternal Newborn
344-2126	Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
346-8162	Medical Unit A
346-8037-done	Medical Unit B
346-8038-done	Medical Unit C
346-8028	Medical Oncology
346-8015	OR Nursing Station
346-8059	Paediatrics
346-8125	Penthouse Control Room
346-8126	Physical Plant Expeditor Office
346-8124	Security
346-8044	Surgical Unit A
346-8048	Surgical Unit B
346-8052	Surgical Unit C
346-8096346-8442	Switchboard Fracture Clinic

We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we worked on resolving this issue.  We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused your staff.

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead and Adam Vinet, Executive Vice President, Patient Experience and Chief Nursing Executive

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Effective immediately, based on pandemic trigger thresholds, the Emergency Department (ED) has been designated as a Hot Zone and PPE requirements have been augmented.

MASKS & EYE-WEAR

All workers (staff, professional staff, volunteers and learners) in the ED are required to wear a fit tested N95 respirator and eye protection at all times. Staff working behind a physical barrier are not required to wear a N95 respirator, however a surgical mask and eye protection must be worn at all times.

GLOVES & GOWNS

Workers that are providing direct patient care are also required to wear a gown and gloves, in addition to the N95 respirator and eye protection. To avoid spread of infection, gloves are to only be worn when providing direct patient care, and appropriate hand hygiene should be applied before donning and after doffing them. Gloves should not be worn at working stations. Gowns can be maintained as needed.

DOFFING & DISPOSAL

All PPE must be removed and replaced when:

• Exiting the room of a known or suspect COVID-19 patient as well as after all AGMPs
• Exiting the room of a patient on additional precautions
• Soiled or contaminated

Workers are to take the same approach used with procedure masks when managing and discarding their N95 respirator. (Refer to page 5 of the attached PPE guidelines document). For example, an N95 respirator can be reapplied after it has been removed for brief periods of eating or drinking.

SUPPLY & DONNING

Workers without the required PPE must enter ED from the main hallway through the ED administration door and there will be designated donning stations to apply all PPE before entering the department.

Stores will monitor and top-up all PPE supplies daily. For supply questions or concerns, please contact Phil Thompson at thompsph@tbh.net.

Pandemic triggers (prevalence, supply inventory and hospital occupancy) are monitored daily. When recovery triggers have been met, the ED Hot Zone will be reevaluated.

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, EVP, Communications and Corporate Relations, COVID-19 Lead and Adam Vinet, Executive Vice President, Patient Experience and Chief Nursing Executive

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In response to the increase in cases of COVID-19 in our community and across the province, as well as the growing threat of the Omicron variant, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has moved its internal COVID-19 Pandemic Response Level to Red (Control). As such, mandatory COVID-19 testing for all Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) patients is required.

Effective immediately all patients, regardless of vaccination status, booked for any Cath Lab procedures will be required to have a COVID-19 PCR swab completed with the testing results available prior to their scheduled procedure. A result from a COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test will not be accepted. Cath Lab procedures include: cardiac catheterization/coronary angiogram, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)/angioplasty, permanent pacemaker insertion, pacemaker battery or lead replacement, cardioversion.

TBRHSC inpatients awaiting Cath Lab procedures will have PCR testing in the care area where they are located 1-5 days pre-procedure.

Regional inpatients awaiting Cath Lab procedures at TBRHSC will have PCR testing completed in the regional hospital where they are admitted prior to transfer and 1-5 days pre-procedure.

Outpatients awaiting Cath Lab procedures are required to have PCR testing completed in the TBRHSC Preadmission Clinic (PAC) 3-5 days pre-procedure. Patients will be notified by Cath Lab booking clerks with date of procedure and will receive a requisition for their COVID-19 test. Regional outpatients who are unable to attend the PAC will be required to obtain PCR swabs in their home community hospital 3-5 days pre-procedure. Any booking received from Nursing Stations will be provided details from the Cath Lab clerks

Note: Regional patients tested at facilities not connected via Meditech should bring proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result with them on the date of their procedure.

All patients are required to self-isolate from the time of testing until the time of their procedure. Failure to self-isolate will invalidate a negative test result.

For inquiries regarding Cath Lab testing procedures please contact the Cardiac Cath Lab bookings office at (807) 684-6675.

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

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our Hospital has coordinated priority testing for all staff after COVID-19 exposure, and or symptoms in order to receive timely results. Currently the COVID-19 Assessment Centre has been a site for both staff and public to book appointments and receive COVID-19 testing.

When staff members attend appointments through this centre, they are booked as priority in-house testing, in order to receive results in efficient turnaround time, as this could impact our Hospital operations. The term “rapid testing” has been often misused when addressing priority testing. To ensure clear communication and understanding, below are clear definitions of the tests.

Each method detects a different part of the virus, and how it works influences the test’s speed and relative accuracy. There are two major types of tests used to diagnose infection with SARS-CoV-2:

1. Molecular testing, better known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) “In-House Priority Testing” – TBRHSC Laboratory Services department has adopted and is licensed to perform: involves the amplification of a virus’s genetic material (RNA/DNA) so that even a small amount of the coronavirus genes in a patient’s sample can be detected. Testing and handling by Medical Laboratory Professionals is extremely complex as is the instrumentation required for analysis. PCR testing is very accurate and considered the gold standard. TAT is not Rapid or Quick; rather performing PCR testing ‘in-house’ in our Microbiology Lab means that results are reported quicker than if we had to dispatch the specimen the Public Health Lab as this dispatch and transportation takes time and also means that specimens go into queue with all other regional specimens being sent to the PHL.

• RAT = Rapid Antigen Testing – TBRHSC Laboratory Services department has not adopted and is not licensed to perform: is much quicker but less accurate than PCR. Positive results can be believed and not confirmed by PCR, but a negative test is not as reliable; therefore, repeat RAT testing is recommended. This test utilizes a lateral flow kit that has antibodies specific to SARS-CoV-2 built into it (applied to a test line) which bind coronavirus antigen, if present (causing a line to become visible indicating a positive result). These tests can be self-administered and do not require an analyzer/equipment platform nor a licensed Medical Laboratory Professional to interpret and report results.

  If any additional information is needed, please contact Georgia Carr, Manager, Laboratory Services at carrg@tbh.net.

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

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Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre’s current internal COVID-19 Pandemic Response Level is RED (Control) and we need to ensure all response measures are followed within our Hospital. 

This reminder has become necessary because failure to adhere to PPE requirements has resulted in several avoidable workplace exposures, which have put significant strain on our already stretched health human resources.

ALL staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers, and contractors while in any Hospital location, must wear a mask and eye protection immediately upon entry until exit and at all times. 

Masks and eye protection can only be removed if you are in an approved break area when eating, drinking and when able to maintain a distance of 2 m/6 ft or more from others (this includes patients and co-workers) or if you are in a private office or workspace.

This includes all TBRHSC sites(including 980, 984,1040 Oliver Road and Munro Street).

Adhering to PPE requirements is very important when it comes to contact tracing and exposure to COVID-19. Wearing PPE protects you, protects your colleagues and our patients and families.

Thank you to all who have remained diligent with their compliance; please hold yourself and each other accountable to all Infection Prevention and Control requirements

Please contact your Manager with any questions or concerns.

**Print and post this memo + poster for staff who may not have regular access to a computer**

Shared on behalf of Cindy Fedell, Regional Chief Information Officer

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We are pleased to announce that Martina Boote has accepted the position of Regional Director of Nursing Informatics.

Martina is currently the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Mental Health Program at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre. She has worked in mental health for the past ten years and has a Masters of Nursing with a Leadership focus and CNA Psychiatric and Mental Health Certification.

In her role as the Regional Director of Nursing Informatics, Martina will be responsible for providing direction and nursing/allied health leadership on the design, implementation and use of informatics to enable high quality health care services. She will work closely with the Regional Medical Information Officer, Dr. Stephen Viherjoki, focusing initially on the HIS renewal. Martina will be working collaboratively with nursing and allied health leaders and key stakeholders across Northwestern Ontario.

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Martina into this new role that she will commence on January 17, 2022.

Shared on behalf of Amy Carr, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer

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To support members of our essential workforce, Emergency Child Care for school-aged children will be available at no cost to eligible families of essential workers with no other child care alternatives.

The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) will work closely with the provincial government and community partners to determine locations. Child care hours and service options will vary by centre. Emergency Child Care may be available as early as January 10th.

Applications are now being accepted for Emergency Child Care. Please apply online at www.thunderbaychildcare.ca and sign in with an existing account or register for a new account. As the Emergency Child Care service requires a separate application, applying with an existing waitlist account will not modify any other waitlist choices.

TBDSSAB will contact eligible families to confirm eligibility, and to notify families when a space becomes available.

If you have any questions, please direct them to Louise Piercey, Manager, Child Care & Early Years Programs at louise.piercey@tbdssab.ca.

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

For more information about COVID-19, please contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at 1-888-294-6630 or www.tbdhu.com/coronavirus.

Congratulations to our Walk the Talk prize winners.

Kristina Visser (pictured) won a $25 gift certificate for submitting a nomination for a Walk the Talk award. Nominations close today, January 6, 2022 and organizational voting for the winners will take place between January 17 and January 27, 2022.

Walk the Talk winners will be announced during our Employee Recognition Week (February 27 to March 4, 2022). Not pictured are our other gift certificate draw winners, Elaine Milks and Yolanda Karpowich. Dr. Masoud Sadreddini was also drawn as a winner for a gift certificate; they generously donated their prize to the Foundation.

Ready to hit the “refresh” button and get back on track with your fitness and wellbeing goals? Wellbeats™ is the perfect way to start the new year fresh and build healthy habits.

Prevention and Screening Clinical Services is bringing the staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre free access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes from January 1^st to 31^st, 2022.

To sign up, follow the information provided on the poster to access the Wellbeats™ website or app.