A winner has been drawn for July’s Thunder Bay 50/50.

The Grand Prize winner of the $648,562 jackpot is Betty-Ann Magel from Red Lake.
When she got the news, she could barely believe what she was hearing. “Are you
sure??” she asked repeatedly.

“Yes, I am.” said Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health
Sciences Foundation, “Your number came up, and it’s your lucky day!”

“Is it ever!” Betty-Ann replied through tears.

Betty-Ann is just months from retiring after a 32 year career at her workplace, where
she got the winning phone call. “This couldn’t have come at a better time.” she said,
“This is the start of a good retirement!”

While she’s not yet sure how she’ll spend some of her jackpot, she says it will really
make a difference.

July marks the 7th monthly Grand Prize draw in the Thunder Bay 50/50. Glenn Craig
has the incredible job of calling the winners with the big news.

“Making these calls just never gets old.” he said, “Betty-Ann’s reaction brought our
team to tears. It’s remarkable to be able to share wonderful life-changing news like this.
“What’s even more remarkable is that all proceeds from the Thunder Bay 50/50 fund
equipment that our Hospital needs to treat patients – not only from Thunder Bay, but
from communities across Northwestern Ontario like Red Lake.”

The Thunder Bay 50/50 continues with a new Grand Prize draw on the last Friday of
every month. The August draw is now open, with four $2000 Early Birds to win – the
first of which is coming up this Wednesday.

Tickets are available online only at thunderbay5050.ca:
$10 for 5 numbers
$20 for 30 numbers
$50 for 150 numbers (Best Value)

Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca. Ticket purchasers
must be present in Ontario to purchase. Lottery licence RAF1199631.

World Patient Safety Day is September 17. The theme for this year is Safe and Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care.

Patients for Patient Safety Canada is seeking art submissions for an online exhibition honouring World Patient Safety Day. They will launch an additional virtual art exhibition, which will include works in various media including: paintings, fibre art, poetry, stories, sculpture, dance, and music. Details and registration links can be accessed here:
https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/what-we-do/what-we-do-together/heart-of-healthcare/?utm_source=patientsafetyinstitute.ca&utm_medium=CTA&utm_campaign=Migration&utm_content=heartofhealthcare-en

Deadline for submission: August 20, 2021 11:59 pm (MST).

In May 2021, Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre (TBRHSC) welcomed back Essential Care Partners (ECPs) for all admitted patients as a result of the low number of active COVID-19 cases and rising vaccination numbers in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario.

Essential Care Partners are defined as an individual identified by the patient who directly impacts the physical, emotional, and psychological well being and safety of patients. They are an integral and important part of good health care, improving patient safety, and quality of care.

Throughout the pandemic, TBRHSC followed a framework that outlines a safe, compassionate, and evidence-informed approach to limiting in-person visits in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Visitor limitations are not intended to be strict or rigid. TBRHSC currently allows one ECP per inpatient, with additional ECPs for defined circumstances. Patients and family members can contact TBRHSC’s Care Partner Liaisons for additional information and support.

Care Partner Liaisons (CPLs) enhance the communication between the health care team, the patient, and ECPs during increased restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. There are CPLs located throughout the inpatient units and the Emergency Department.

“The added stress of pandemic restrictions in the Hospital is not a burden we want our patients and families to experience,” said Sarah Chadwick, Inpatient Care Partner Liaison. “We take extraordinary steps to connect each patient with their Essential Care Partners, either in person or virtually. We’ve also become a great resource for other staff when they have questions or concerns about the ECP guidelines to ensure they are providing quality Patient and Family Centred Care”, continued Chadwick. “I love being an advocate for patients in our Hospital, and reuniting patients with family or friends on a daily basis is truly the most rewarding”.

Patients coming for outpatient or emergency services are encouraged to attend their visit alone when able, due to space limitations. However, one ECP will be approved as needed (e.g. patient’s with physical, cognitive, mental health, communication, and behavioral needs). If you have any questions regarding your visit, please contact the outpatient department directly. If you are accessing the Emergency Department, please contact the department’s dedicated Care Partner Liaison at (807) 630-6272.

To ensure a safe visit, ECPs must follow TBRHSC’s policies and procedures, such as coming through main entrance to be screened, wearing a Hospital-provided mask, and verifying ECP access (photo identification required). This process may take a moment, and we ask for your continued patience.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Inpatient Care Partner Liaison at (807) 684-7865. If you are declined ECP access you can contact our Patient Advocate at (807) 629-3887 and/or the unit manager. For TBRHSC’s full ECP guidelines, visit www.tbrhsc.net.

Sent on behalf of Dr. Peter Voros, EVP In-Patient Care Programs

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Our Hospital’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre and Call Centre have played a vital role in protecting the health and safety of our staff, professional staff, patients and community members. As the pandemic evolves with few to no cases locally, along with the increase in fully vaccinated individuals, swabbing needs are decreasing significantly. As such, the COVID-19 Call Centre will be closed effective August 1^st, 2021, at which time call taking duties will be assumed at the Assessment Centre.

The Assessment Centre will also decrease hours, effective August 16^th, 2021, to the following:

• Monday to Friday: 0800-1600
• Saturday: 1000-1400
• Sunday: Closed

The health and safety of all remains our top priority. In the event that cases of COVID-19 in the community rise again, the Assessment Centre will respond accordingly.

Thank you to all staff, professional staff and community partners who contributed to the successful operations of both the Call Centre and the Assessment Centre over the past many months. Your commitment, dedication, and flexibility have not gone unnoticed.

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

Send in your favourite recipes or tells us how you stay healthy and well. Contact Caitlund Davidson at davidsoc@tbh.net for more information.

Registration on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/baby-friendly-initiative-20-hour-breastfeeding-course-tickets-163234305201

Volunteers like Mandy Solly are happy to be returning to volunteer at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, many for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am thankful to be able to finally return to my position in Paediatrics,” she says.  “I am honoured to be part of this amazing program and the impact it has in the lives of patients and families.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of volunteers like Mandy stepped up in countless ways everyday to support and enhance patient and family centred care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

They were active in about 40 different volunteer roles throughout the Hospital, including: Healthy Lifestyles Rehabilitation, Seasons Gift Shop (including the Jewellery Gallery), the Courtyard Gardens, and the Child Life programs in Paediatrics, to name just a few.

Our Hospital, like most in Ontario, made the difficult decision to limit most or all volunteer activity during the pandemic.

The absence of volunteers has had a huge impact on the patient and visitor experience as well as impacts on the functioning of various departments, services, and programs that have come to rely on volunteer involvement.

“They are a vital part of our program,” says Kyle Baysarowich, Manager, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Cardiac Diagnostics. The Healthy Lifestyles Volunteers in the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation program are part of an interprofessional health care team. The volunteers help to motivate and assist out-patients recovering from cardiovascular disease with their exercise programs and assist staff with office work.

Healthy Lifestyles Volunteer Frank Rizzuto says he is relieved and excited that he will be able to return to volunteer again. “Volunteering with the amazing team at Healthy Lifestyles has been a blessing, and helping others move forward through similar circumstances I’ve gone through myself, has been mentally healing for me as well. I can’t wait to get in there and start bringing smiles back to peoples’ faces.”

Owned and operated by the Volunteer Association to the Hospital, Seasons Gift Shop had to close on December 26, 2020 as part of the province-wide shutdown, prohibiting in-person shopping in most retail settings. Hospital staff and patients were happy to see the gift shop reopen on July 5, 2021. All profits from Seasons Gift Shop are used to fund vital medical equipment for the Hospital.

“We recognize all of the volunteers who stepped back from volunteering this past year to protect themselves and our community, as our Hospital, like most in Ontario, limited most or all volunteer activity during the pandemic,” says Donna Jeanpierre, the Hospital’s Volunteer Services Manager.

“And we are thrilled to see them return. Both staff and patients have expressed their gratitude to see volunteers returning to serve at the Hospital. We all value what they do to make the patient experience better, and we are all so happy to see them come back.”

We want to thank all of the volunteers who help make a difference for patients and families.

Welcome back!

Take advantage of this exclusive pick-up location just for staff.

Create your own Superior Seasons box on a week-by-week basis filled with local, in-season fruits, vegetables, and other fresh products of your choosing.

How to place your order

Step 1: Create an account, visit: https://superiorseasons.localfoodmarketplace.com/ to get started
Step 2: Login and set-up your account
Step 3: Create your order (advanced payment with credit card required)
Step 4: Choose ‘TBRHSC Staff Only’ as your pick-up location (available for Hospital staff only).

How to pick up your order

Location: Outside the East (Cafeteria Entrance), by the bike racks
Date: Wednesdays from July 14 to October 6
Time: 2:15 pm to 3:00 pm

Orders can be placed every week between Wednesday at 5:30 pm to Sunday at 4:30 pm for pick up the following Wednesday.

For more information please contact Amanda Walberg at walberga@tbh.net.

July has been another huge month for the Thunder Bay 50/50, with the take-home jackpot approaching $500,000 in the final week of ticket sales.

The Thunder Bay 50/50 is a monthly raffle in support of Thunder Bay’s Hospital, with a new Grand Prize draw on the last Friday of every month. Ticket sales for July’s draw will end this Thursday night. Over $3 Million has been won since the 50/50 launched in January.

Each Thunder Bay 50/50 ticket helps fund the highest priority equipment needs at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, which cares for patients from Thunder Bay and all across Northwestern Ontario. Many pieces of equipment have been funded so far including 3 specialty ICU beds, a BiPAP ventilator, a cardiac & oxygen Monitor, a dental x-ray machine, and more.

When asked why they support the Thunder Bay 50/50, ticket purchasers shared the many reasons they take part:

“Some of my family members have been patients there and received exceptional care, so I wanted to support the hospital.” – Sandra H.

“I have had to spend time in the hospital and really appreciated the quality of service that I received. I am lucky to be here because of the staff at the Thunder Bay hospital.” – William G.“As a heart patient I have received excellent care and want to help fund necessary equipment.” – Krissy E.

Tickets are available online only at www.thunderbay5050.ca:

• $10 for 5 numbers
• $20 for 30 numbers
• $50 for 150 numbers
• $75 for 304 numbers (Limited-time deal for July!)

** Must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 29th to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on July 30th, 2021.

Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca. Participants must be present in Ontario and 18 years old or older at time of purchase. Lottery licence RAF1199631.