Clinic Dates for Staff, Physicians and Volunteers

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Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. It’s contagious and spreads rapidly from person to person. Fortunately, the influenza vaccine is safe and effective and can benefit people of all ages. Even if you’re healthy, getting immunized against influenza is a great way to protect those around you. Our Hospital’s Occupational Health & Safety team is offering influenza vaccine for staff, physicians and volunteers each weekday until October 29th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (1100-1400), outside of Auditorium A/B (3rd level). No appointments are required. Staff who attend are asked to wear short sleeves and are reminded to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing while waiting.

October 2021
Monday, 18th	Tuesday, 19th	Wednesday, 20th	Thursday, 21st	Friday, 22nd
Outside Aud A/B 1100-1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400
Monday, 25th	Tuesday, 26th	Wednesday, 27th	Thursday, 28th	Friday, 29th
Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400	Outside Aud A/B 1100 – 1400

The following information is for users who enter diet orders into Meditech:

Discontinuation of obsolete diet orders

Please be advised that on November 1^st, 2021 we will be discontinuing the following diet orders:

1.  “Protein Restricted Diets”

If your patient requires a high protein diet please choose the primary diet required (ie. FULL, SOFT, CHOPPED). For the secondary diet please choose “High protein/high calorie diet”.

2. “Six Small Meals”

If your patient requires small portions please choose the primary diet required. For the secondary diet please choose “Small meals” and requests snacks in the comment section if necessary.

3. “No Seeds”

If your patient requires a seed restriction due to an allergy please input the appropriate allergy. If an intolerance please choose the primary diet required. For the secondary diet please choose “Low Residue” or write no seeds in the comment section.

4. “High Fibre”

The standard patient menu consists of fibre containing foods. We do not offer a higher fibre diet. Please input specific patient preferences into the comment section if required.

5. “Moderate Potassium”

If your patient requires a potassium restricted diet please choose the primary diet required. For the secondary diet please choose “Low potassium”.

6. “High Potassium”

We do not offer a high potassium diet. Please input specific items requests into the comment section of the diet order if necessary.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nutrition and Food Services at 684-6725.

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Change to Diabetic Diet Orders

Please be advised that on November 1^st, 2021 we will be discontinuing the Diabetic Patterned diets.

If your patient requires a “Diabetic diet” please choose the primary diet required (ie. FULL, SOFT, CHOPPED). For the secondary diet please choose “Diabetic/No Added Sugar diet”.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nutrition and Food Services at 684-6725.

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New secondary diet orders

Please be advised that on November 1^st, 2021 we will be adding the following secondary diet orders:

1. “Ready Meals”

2. “LTC Menu”

3. “Pescatarian (Vegetarian + Fish)”

4. “Low Iodine”

If your patient requires one of the above diets please choose the primary diet required (ie. FULL, SOFT, CHOPPED). For the secondary diet choose as many as the above as needed. Please note that writing these secondary diet orders in the comment section will no longer be sufficient.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nutrition and Food Services at 684-6725.

Congratulations to Caroline Fanti, Director of Regional Surgical Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for being recognized as the Innovation Hero of the Year at the RBC Innovation Awards on October 20th. This award was graciously sponsored by Lakehead University’s Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Development. Caroline and her team designed and implemented a unique clinical service delivery model program that ensures patients in Northwestern Ontario receive care as close to home as possible, experience lower wait times, equity with access to care and assurance of nationally recognized best practice standards.

For a full list of winners, visit https://www.nwoinnovation.ca/rbc-innovation-awards-2021

Please join the Mental Health Team in celebrating Diana Tracogna’s retirement after 34 years of service, spent entirely with the Adult Mental Health Service.

To recognize her contributions to the organization, a retirement tea will be held in her honour on Friday, October 29th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am in the Mental Health Outpatient area (Room 2020).

Due to pandemic safety guidelines, there will only be brief socialization, but everyone is invited to stop by for coffee, tea, cake and best wishes.

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re highlighting staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre who play a vital role in the breast cancer journey. From cancer screening to cancer treatment, there are hundreds of caring professionals that you will meet along the way. Today, we’re sharing a Q & A from Jessica DiFelice, a radiation therapist at the Regional Cancer Centre.

Describe your role for us.

I am a radiation therapist and I treat cancer patients with radiation. We see patients daily and deliver the treatment the radiation oncologist has prescribed and planned.

What does it take to be a radiation therapist?

Schooling to be a radiation therapist includes a 4-year degree that is part academic work and part clinical experience. Our final year is spent in the clinic working with patients and completing practical skills assessments. We then write a certification exam at the end that we must pass to work in Canada. In addition to schooling, it takes compassion and empathy to be a radiation therapist. We deal with many types of patients, from curative to palliative. As a radiation therapist we need to be able to comfort and talk with our patients about how they are feeling and help them through their cancer journey. We also require attention to detail because we have to be precise when delivering a patient’s treatment.

What is unique about your role?

Many people don’t know what radiation therapy is until they have to come for treatment. It is up to us to guide our patients through the process of treatment and help answer any questions they may have about radiation therapy.

What inspired you to work in cancer care?

My inspiration for working in cancer care is my family. I have had many family members with cancer and I was inspired by how positively they talked about the people delivering their care. I wanted to help people through their treatments. We had a presentation in university about the different types of Medical Radiation Technologists and the Radiation Therapy specialization really resonated with me. I enjoy that we get to interact with patients and see them on a day-to-day basis.

How does your role impact patient care?

We are an important part of the cancer journey. We aren’t just there to help deal with side effects and the physical part of treatment; we are there for the emotional part as well. We can be a shoulder to cry on, or someone to tell jokes to (or tell jokes ourselves to cheer patient’s up). We want our patients to feel comfortable and we try our best to make their day.

Sent on behalf of Peter Myllymaa, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services & Operations, TBRHSC

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As you are aware, today is Mieke DeRoover’s last day at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). First, I want to wish Mieke all the best as she continues her career in North Bay.

We have posted for a temporary full time Health Records manager, and will be conducting interviews for that position as soon as possible. In the interim, please note the following coverage which will be in place until we have successfully hired and trained a new manager:

• Carrie Faubert will be the interim Privacy Officer for TBRHSC. Any privacy concerns should be directed to Carrie.
• Marcia Gillies and Pam Chypyha will assume the daily management of the operations of the Health Records department.
• Rita Grenier Buchan will act as the chair of the Forms Committee.
• Stacy Brown will be the acting lead for the registration process, and will work closely with both Marcia and Pam.
• Cindy Fedell will provide management support to Carrie, Marcia and Pam during the interim.
• Lisa Beck will act as the ER NACRS Initiative (ERNI) Coordinator in the interim.

I want to thank all of those above who have agreed to step up to help fill the incredible void that needs to be filled in the interim period. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

To kick-off Canadian Patient Safety Week (October 25-29), our Hospital is bringing back Good Catch Awards to highlight individuals, groups or departments who demonstrate their commitment to keeping everyone safe by reporting a good catch (near miss). Recipients will be selected based on the nature of the good catch and the impact to safety.

What is a ‘good catch’?

A ‘good catch’ (or near miss) is an event or situation that could have resulted in an accident, injury or illness to a patient, but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention. Since good catches never reach the patient, they give us information about the protective systems in place and by sharing this information we can prevent them from ever reaching someone.

How is a good catch (near miss) reported?

Near miss reports (good catches) are submitted by accessing the same program used for patient safety incidents (Incident Learning System). Click on the ‘safety reporting’ icon from your Novell home page, or go to the iNtranet and choose ‘Safety Reporting’ under ‘Informational’.

Good Catch Awards will continue on a quarterly basis after Canadian Patient Safety Week — so stay tuned for more details!

For more information, please contact Katherine Mayer, Patient Safety Specialist (mayerk@tbh.net).

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and @Erin Kahkonen – Independent Epicure Consultant and Leader is doing a fundraiser for the Northern Cancer Fund!

Place an order for Epicure’s incredible Weeknight Dinners Fundraiser Collection for $25 each, and $10 from every kit sold will be donated to the Northern Cancer Fund so that they proceeds will stay right here in Thunder Bay! These kits make great gifts but also contain many family favourites to make your mealtimes a breeze.

Order Online until Saturday, October 30th from https://erinkahkonen.epicure.com

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/acls-renewal-advanced-life-support-tickets-188633898067