Sent on behalf of Prevention and Screening Clinical Services

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Thank you to everyone who attended Esther’s virtual retirement party!

Just a reminder that you can still sign the virtual guestbook for Esther by sending your message in a word document titled ‘For_Esther_from_Your Name’ to Ann-Marie Cline (clinea@tbh.net).

If you would like to contribute to the gift being arranged, or if you have something for Esther, please call Mudassir Ahmed at 684-7320 to make arrangements.

Please send any messages or contributions by Friday, May 24, 2021.

While COVID-19 is dominating our news headlines, cancer continues to impact the health of too many individuals across Northwestern Ontario. And in a time when we are all doing our best to stay healthy, it’s important to stay up to date with your screening.

That’s why Prevention and Screening Clinical Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has launched a campaign called ‘Cancer Doesn’t Stop for COVID-19’ to encourage individuals to get screened for breast, cervical, and colon cancer, even during the pandemic.

“Cancer doesn’t stop for COVID-19,” says Tarja Heiskanen, Manager of Screening and Assessment Services at TBRHSC. “We can’t underestimate the importance of cancer screening. Routine screening can find certain types of cancer earlier, before you have any symptoms. Detecting cancer early means that there is an even better chance of treating it successfully. As an example, colon cancer is 90% curable if found at an early stage.”  

There are three organized cancer screening programs in Ontario:

Breast cancer screening:

• Women between the ages of 50 and 74 years should complete a breast cancer screening mammogram every two years.

Cervical cancer screening:

• Anyone with a cervix aged 21 to 69, who has ever been sexually active, should complete a Pap test every three years.

Colon cancer screening:

• Anyone aged 50 to 74 with no first-degree family history of colon cancer should complete a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years.

All three programs can be accessed on TBRHSC’s Screen for Life Coach, which is currently travelling throughout the Northwest region. Those who are eligible for screening do not require a referral from a health care provider to access services on the Coach.

“Although it is not uncommon for individuals to postpone appointments for mammograms, pap smears, and colon cancer screenings for various reasons, we recommend that everyone stays up-to-date with their cancer screening,” says Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “It’s understandable that many people are afraid to attend medical appointments during the pandemic because they do not want to be exposed to COVID-19, but you can be confident that when you are visiting these health care settings, including the Screen for Life Coach, they are following COVID-19 guidelines and you will be safe.”

There is no reason to wait – put routine cancer screening back on your to-do list. If you are eligible and due or overdue for breast, cervical, or colon cancer screening tests, contact your health care provider or the Screen for Life Coach at (807) 684-7777 to book your appointment.

To see the complete Screen for Life Coach travel season schedule, visit www.tbrhsc.net/screenforlife.

To learn more about cancer screening, visit www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening.

It’s Heart Failure Awareness Week, and we’re highlighting staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre who play a vital role in caring for patients who are living with heart failure. Today, we’re sharing some Q&A with Kathryn Bill, a Nurse Practitioner in the Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Telehomecare Program.

What does it take to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the CHF Telehomecare Program?

After working as a Registered Nurse (RN), I went back to school for further education to become a Nurse Practitioner as well as getting my Masters of Nursing degree. My nursing background included ten years of working in telemetry, both as a travel nurse and a staff nurse at McKellar General Hospital, and over ten additional years of experience as a RN in the Intensive Care Unit.

What is unique about your role?

As a NP with the CHF Telehomecare Program, I am able to remotely monitor a patient who has heart failure from the comfort of their home. I can monitor their vital signs and their weight daily for subtle changes or trends, which might indicate a worsening or change in their condition. I can then make changes to their medications or provide counselling on their diet which may help to slow the progression of the heart failure and possibly prevent hospitalization.

What inspired you to work in cardiac care?

I was inspired to work in cardiac care because there is a strong history of heart disease in my family. As well, I am aware that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Canada, and I feel privileged to work in the ever-changing dynamic field of cardiac medicine.

How does your role impact patient care?

By being able to interact with patients via the telephone, I can help alleviate and address concerns and needs that patients may have, without the patients having to make an emergent hospital visit. This helps prevent some patients from “falling through the cracks”, and can help reduce the stress on the patient and on the health care system.

On the concept of practice what you preach, do you have any personal tips on how to stay heart healthy?

It is very important to maintain heart health by trying to stay active daily. I like to go for bike rides or hikes with my family when it is feasible to. Even during this period of isolation due to COVID-19, it is important both for physical and mental health, to go for walks and to just get out into nature and enjoy the fresh air.

Any final thoughts?

Heart disease can be a very isolating and lonely disease. I feel grateful through my position that I am able to provide assistance and reassurance to patients in need.

Eat well. Eating healthy foods will help you to have fewer mood fluctuations, an improved ability to focus and an overall happier outlook on life. It may even help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

With spring in the air and vaccinations rolling out in Thunder Bay and across the Northwest in higher volumes, there seems to be a renewed sense of optimism with many people. Without a doubt, it is welcomed and with light at the end of the tunnel somewhat evident, it is in many ways justified.

However, there’s work to do first. The third wave is hitting Ontario hard and is proving to be the most difficult wave yet. We have lost so many friends, family and neighbours during this pandemic. Our health care professionals are exhausted and yet continue to treat people with the highest levels of professionalism and compassion.

And, now with other parts of Ontario getting hit harder than us and experiencing crisis levels of cases, our Hospital is one of many that the province is turning to as a place where they can send patients to be treated. As you know, earlier in the pandemic, it was TBRHSC that needed help and had to send patients out as part of the provincial health care system. Now it is our turn to step up and show Ontario what makes our people the best – and that is exactly what they are doing. Our staff are currently going through a redeployment strategy within the Hospital to ensure we are best positioned to help the most vulnerable who are flown into us – while ensuring our communities in the Northwest are served for all of their urgent health care needs. Seeing this in action – seeing the ability of our senior leadership and staff to pivot quickly yet again is inspiring and comforting. They are truly role models and heroes for us all.

While we continue to struggle with the realities of COVID-19, senior leadership with input from the Board, has begun extremely important work on the Hospital’s next strategic plan. What may sound bureaucratic to some is actually a critical roadmap that will help TBRHSC be successful post-pandemic. There has already been input from various stakeholders including the public, with more input happening as we speak. Now we are moving the process into the extremely crucial Phase 2.

We are asking people to engage and challenge this process. Now more than ever, it is critical we get this right. To inspire and challenge the process, the Hospital has engaged several thought leaders from various sectors across the province, as while as nationally and internationally. They are lending insight on future health modelling, health system redesign, post-COVID recovery, and new systems approach to care at a community and regional level. I am encouraging everyone to engage in the very important process and be heard.

As I conclude this update, I encourage everyone to reflect on what they have been through, what they have endured and how they did that. We are in the late rounds now and after speaking with our senior leadership team, front-line health care workers and research experts, it is clear this is the time for our communities to double-down on precautions related to social distancing and proper mask usage.

Stay safe, everyone. Be kind to one another. We’re almost there.

It’s safe to say Lance Dyll was more than a little shocked when he learned he’d won $634,240 in April’s Thunder Bay 50/50.

“I thought it was a joke!” he exclaimed, when asked how he felt when he got the news, “It still doesn’t feel real. It’s going to take awhile to sink in.”

Lance and his wife Lynn bought Thunder Bay 50/50 tickets to help support local healthcare. They never expected to win.

“It’s such a great cause, and it’s so important that the money raised stays here at our Hospital.” explained Lynn, “Winning was an added bonus!”

How will they celebrate their windfall?

“I’m an accountant, so we’ll be pretty practical,” Lance explained, “but it will definitely be nice when we can celebrate with our family and friends.”

“Eventually we’d love to travel a bit too, and of course save for our sons to go to school.” Lynn added.

“Our sons already have plans for it!” Lance said with a laugh, “They’re teenagers and they’ve been begging us for phones. I kept saying they were a waste of money… I don’t know if they’ll accept that answer anymore.”

Lance and Lynn’s big win means over $2.2 million has been won by lucky Thunder Bay 50/50 participants since the raffle launched in January.

“It was a thrill to hand that cash over to Lance and Lynn!” said Glenn Craig, President & CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “When we started the Thunder Bay 50/50 we couldn’t have imagined this success. Thanks to every person who has purchased tickets, the Hospital will be receiving vital equipment – like a new BiPAP Ventilator and 3 specialized new beds in the Intensive Care Unit. It’s a win-win for everyone in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.”

Congratulations to the Dylls, and good luck to everyone in this month’s Thunder Bay 50/50!

About the Thunder Bay 50/50

This month’s take-home prize is already over $100,000 and rising fast! Every Thunder Bay 50/50 ticket funds vital medical equipment right here at our Hospital, bringing better healthcare to Thunder Bay & Northwestern Ontario. There is a new Thunder Bay 50/50 Grand Prize draw on the last Friday of every month! Anyone 18 and older and who is in Ontario at time of purchase can participate! Note: Tickets do not carry over from monthly draw to monthly draw.

Purchase at: www.thunderbay5050.ca

Lottery Licence RAF1199631

Shared on behalf of Lisa Beck, Director, Trauma, Emergency, Critical Care, Respiratory& Nurse Led Outreach and Dr. Dave Wood, Medical Program Director, Trauma, Emergency & Critical Care

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We are pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Prete as Emergency Services Manager, effective May 10, 2021.

In this leadership role, Debra will be responsible for the operations and management of the Emergency Department (ED) and Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Program.

In August, Debra assumed the role of ED Patient Flow Coordinator and has championed many process changes in response to the pandemic. Debra comes with 29 years of nursing experience, including 14 years as an ED Charge Nurse. Debra has led many successful initiatives that have improved patient experience and created efficiencies in the department. With her ability to empower and engage staff, Debra has facilitated many positive improvements within the workplace.

Debra graduated from Lakehead University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and recently has enhanced her knowledge by obtaining a San’yas Indigenous Cultural Awareness Certificate.

Please join us in congratulating Debra in her new position!

Link: comms.tbrhsc.net/stratvideo/anthony-dale