Date: Friday, October 22, 2021 / Time: 08:45 – 15:15

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine and the Lakehead Obstetrics and Gynecology Local Education Group are pleased to invite you to the fifth annual Northern Ontario Women’s Health Conference.

Our mission, as always, is to bring together remote, rural, and urban primary care providers to network and share information related to Women’s Health in our region. This year’s conference will bring together regional expertise complimented with expertise from our tertiary care referral centres to discuss pertinent topics to our patient population.

Who Should Attend

We invite all family physicians, specialists, midwives, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, allied health professionals, residents and medical learners to attend. We hope the virtual platform will allow even more individuals to attend. See you there!

National Speakers and Topics

• Dr. Iris Gorfinkel – Trauma Informed Care in Gynecology (CMAJ Publication July 2021)
• Dr. Christine Lay – Migraines in Pregnancy and Menstrual Migraines (Neurologist and Director, Centre for Headache – U of T)
• Dr. Jennifer Yamamoto -Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy/Infertility (University of Manitoba, Published SOGC Guidelines on Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy)

Plus Local Experts Presenting on: SSRI in Pregnancy and Breast Feeding, Emergency Treatment of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Obesity Implications on Women’s Health, Covid Vaccination in Pregnancy and Breast Feeding

Conference Learning Objectives:
• Identify common best practice approaches to the management of antepartum and intrapartum care.
• Discuss common gynecological issues faced by women throughout their lifespan.
• Create a community of best practice for women’s health in Northwestern Ontario.

Registration Fees for Online Conference:
• Physician: $75.00
• Nurses and Allied Health: $60.00
• NOSM Learner – Fees waived for Online Conference

Register online: https://event.fourwaves.com/womenshealth2021/registration

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This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Office at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine for up to 5.5 Mainpro+ credit(s).

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Office at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. You may claim a maximum of 5.5 hour(s) (credits are automatically calculated).

When: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in October between 12 – 1pm.

Where: Online via Webex at https://tbh.net/hwp

Alternatively, you can join by phone by calling 1-647-484-1598 (long distance fees apply).

Access code: 2421 123 8570

See the attached calendar for details on each session.

For more information, contact Caitlund Davidson at davidsoc@tbh.net.

Thanks to a stellar performance in September, triathlete, Kayla Kjellman has secured herself a spot at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October 2022.

Kayla works as a Registered Nurse at our Hospital. When she isn’t working, she’s training. The Ironman requires athletes to swim 3900m, bike 180km, and then run a 42.2km marathon consecutively.

In 2019, Kayla qualified for Kona 2020 but the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. Despite closures and obstacles interfering with her training, she persevered and continued to find ways to train. Kona 2021 was in her sights. Unfortunately, with the fourth wave of the pandemic, the event for 2021 was cancelled.

With many ups and downs over the past two years and a list of cancelled races, Kayla has managed to stay determined and come out stronger than ever.

In September of 2021, she finally got the chance to race in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her impressive performance landed her 1^st in her age group and 12^th out of 631 women. She beat her previous Ironman time by an hour and placed 53^rd overall out of more than 2,000 athletes. This was enough to secure her a spot at the 2022 Ironman World Championships in Kona.

Congratulations and good luck Kayla!

The full article can be found in the Chronicle Journal and the Thunder Bay Source.

If you are looking for a fun event that combines a great workout and supports breast cancer, look no further than Barbells for Boobs.  This annual event, organized by Superior CrossFit, has raised over $10,000 for the Northern Cancer Fund.

“Barbells for Boobs is a worldwide event put on by CrossFit gyms during the month of October, which is breast cancer awareness month. The event is “Grace”, 30 Clean and Jerks for FUN! The workout can be modified and is suitable for all abilities and levels of fitness,” says Ron Rost, one of the organizers of the event.  “All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Northern Cancer Fund, as it’s important to us that funds raised will stay right here in Northwestern Ontario”.

Registration is by donation, and all proceeds will be donated to the Northern Cancer Fund.  The event starts at 10:00 am, with participants completing the workouts in heats.  To sign up for this year’s event, you can contact Ron Rost at (807) 252-8777.  Or, if you are a member of Superior CrossFit, you can sign up using your profile on the MindBody app. All participants must show proof of vaccination as per Thunder Bay District Health Unit.  Participants are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes or pink in support of breast cancer awareness. 

**Photos taken prior to COVID-19 pandemic**

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 Donna Preater, a Registered Nurse on the Screen for Life Coach.

Describe your role for us.

I am a Registered Nurse (RN). My role is to perform Pap tests for cervical cancer screening and to assess if clients qualify for colon cancer screening. If the client is eligible, I will write a requisition for them to receive a FIT kit in the mail. I work on the Screen For Life Coach that travels across Northwestern Ontario as part of a two person team. I also have my DZ license and get to drive the Coach!

What does it take to be an RN on the Screen For Life Coach?

An RN diploma or degree is required for this position. Along with the required schooling, it is important to have compassion and a passion for working with our region’s population – many are underserved/never served and may struggle to access health care services. Finally, I would say it takes a listening ear. There are times when people arrive on the Coach for their appointment and have had difficult encounters with the health system. We can often do little but listen and somehow that seems to help.

What is unique about your role?

There are two mobile cancer screening coaches in Ontario and only one in Northwestern Ontario. It is a unique role and I love it.

What inspired you to work in Cancer Care?

Rates of cancer are higher in our region than the rest of Ontario. I want those that are eligible for screening to get screened so that cancer can be found early, when it is easier to treat. Thanks to the Coach, we can reach smaller communities that may not have screening services in their area. The Coach is welcomed and appreciated in each of the communities we visit and that is a great feeling.

How does your role impact patient care?

We bring cancer screening to where people live. We are kind, caring, efficient and proficient in our professions.

Any final thoughts?

Our Coach has received a lot of positive feedback. There is no wait, no parking fees, quick service, kindness and maybe even a chuckle. It makes for an awesome place to be screened but also to work as a career RN.

The second full week of each October (10-16) is dedicated to celebrating the important role of Medical Device Reprocessing Departments (MDRD) across the country, just like the one at our Hospital. The MDRD staff is made up of certified technicians that wash, inspect, assemble, wrap, sterilize and distribute instruments to the O.R. and clinics throughout the Hospital. With a focus on patient safety and quality assurance, the proper reprocessing of reusable patient care items is more important than it ever has been. With over 40 dedicated staff, the MDRD works almost 24/7 to make sure doctors, nurses and surgeons have clean sterile instruments they need to ensure patients receive the care they need.

The Fracture Clinic X-ray machine is being replaced and construction will begin on Tuesday, October 12th. The construction and replacement will be completed by December 2021. Please use caution in and around the construction site and adhere to posted signage directives.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Kaitlyn Mauracher at maurachk@tbh.net.

Sent on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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The VRE outbreak declared August 31, 2021 on 3C is over. As per routine post-outbreak practice, heightened cleaning protocols will continue on the unit for the next week.

In the past two weeks, no patient acquired VRE as a result of their stay on the unit. We believe this success was achieved as a result of quickly implementing outbreak management protocols related to admission and prevalence screening, VRE positive and contact case management, heightened cleaning practices, and co-horting of VRE-affected patients within the outbreak unit.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the emergency department, admitting, housekeeping, clinical laboratory, ICPs and 3C management and staff for all of their hard work. Way to go team!

There are currently no units on outbreak at TBRHSC.

Sent on behalf of Dr. Peter Voros, Executive VP, Patient Care Programs, Regional VP, Cancer Services, North West Regional Cancer Program

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Essential Care Partners (ECPs) are an integral and essential part of care provision. ECPs directly impact the physical, emotional and psychological well-being and safety of patients. ECP presence improves patient safety, reduces harm, improves quality of care, patient outcomes and patient care experiences as well as contributing to better staff morale and communication between health care teams and patients.

Patients who access care in our Emergency Department (ED) while the Hospital’s Internal Pandemic Response Level is Green or Yellow are permitted to be accompanied by one ECP.

Please note that the ED is at increased risk of exposure in general due to the high volume and space limitations making it difficult to ensure physical distancing. If the Hospital’s Internal Pandemic Response moves to Level Orange or Red, please refer to the updated guidance document for details: https://comms.tbrhsc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/COVID-19-ECP-and-CP-Guidelines-October-2021.pdf

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

Sondra Seibel and Kayleigh Larocque (Peritoneal Dialysis Nurses) wanted to show support for our Hospital’s renal patients, and honour the memory of those patients who have passed away. To do this, Kayleigh, who is also an accomplished artist, created a canvas piece, which now hangs in the Renal Department waiting room. In the piece, she used sunset colours to honour the Indigenous population. Along with the canvas is a plaque that reads:

We mourn for those we have loved
We celebrate with those we have healed
We walk beside those who are on the journey
We prepare for those who will come

The art piece and plaque can be seen in the Renal Department on the Hospital’s main level.

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Artist Bio

Kayeleigh Larocque is a mixed media artist growing through life with art on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation. Kayeleigh endeavours to share her unique journey of self discovery and translate the absolute magic, wonder and beauty of North Western Ontario’s boreal forest. Her love for nature is highlighted by the leaves and trees in her pyrography, or the majestic sunsets and landscapes she paints. Kayeleigh’s art that is currently displayed in the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Renal department captures the thoughts and feelings of our health care workers especially how a pandemic has changed our practice and our lives. The sense of community that these paintings have brought about has motivated Kayeleigh to continue to create art that will bring people together. Kayeleigh has expressed that her art is how she finds balance and true calmness amongst this life of uncertainties. Kayeleigh can usually be found at our local Craft Revivals, selling her pieces at Seasons in the Country or showcasing her talents on Facebook and Instagram. You can follow Kayeleigh at @kayeleighlarocque.art and @shuniahspun