Protecting the health and safety of our staff, professional staff, patients, and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic is our utmost priority. With the current lockdown order issued by the Province of Ontario, it’s now more important than ever to maintain physical distancing and avoid non-essential movement from home.
The Health Records department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre offers safe, secure and convenient options for patients and families to obtain access to their health records from the comfort of home. While the department is currently closed to in-person traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients and families are strongly encouraged to utilize mail, fax or the electronic Medchart platform to submit and receive documents related to health records requests.
Please note that the Health Records department processes requests to obtain copies of the paper reports contained in the medical record. For more information or other inquiries, please call the Health Records department at (807) 684-6640 or visit https://tbrhsc.net/home/information-services/health-records/. Requests related to obtaining digital images (Diagnostic Imaging) on CD should be directed to the Digital Library at (807) 684-6067.
Leadership with the regional hospital for all Northwestern Ontario is reaching out to anyone who wants a say in the future direction through its strategic planning process. Among other outcomes, Strategic Plan 2026 will prioritize the needs of the community, and advance partnerships and health system integration. Work began on this a couple of months ago.
“Dealing with COVID-19 the past year has certainly created plenty of operational challenges for the Hospital – however it is crucial that we continued planning for how we serve our communities post-pandemic,” said Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) President and CEO, and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) CEO, Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott. “To that end, we want to hear from our front-line staff, the public and our stakeholders to help inspire thinking and create priorities over the next five years.”
To date, the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee for TBRHSC and TBRHRI has been working hard behind the scenes on Strategic Plan 2026 – having already conducted over 70 interviews and focus groups.
“Everyone has experiences and expectations to share that can expand the ways we enhance patient outcomes and experiences,” said Hospital Board Chair Matt Simeoni. “So, 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, TBRHSC has engaged several thought leaders from various sectors across the province, as while as nationally and internationally.
“These thought leaders are lending insight on future health modelling, health system redesign, post-COVID recovery, while inspiring new and innovative approaches to care at a community and regional level,” added TBRHRI Chair Dr. Andrew Dean. “However, this strategic planning process only works if we hear from all stakeholders.”
Anyone interested in contributing to the Strategic Plan 2026 should visit www.tbrhsc.net/strategicplan2026. There you will find more information about the process, thought provoking videos, and a link to a short survey. Hospital leadership is aiming to have the Strategic Plan complete by the summer.
Dear Staff, Professional Staff, Learners, Volunteers, Researchers, and Board members
Greetings, Boozhoo and Bonjour,
I hope this note finds you doing well. With the current vaccine rate across our organization at over 90% for those having chosen to be vaccinated, and the sunny days and better spring weather upon us, there certainly is reason for optimism. The timing couldn’t be better as we face the challenges associated with the pandemic’s third wave and the Variants of Concern.
For this month’s blog, I would like to focus on Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) after the COVID-19 pandemic.
I know many of you joined us for the All-Staff Town Hall Meeting. For those who did not, the focus was on Strategic Plan 2026 – and your crucial role in this process. Strategic Plan 2026 will prioritize the needs of the community, and advance partnerships and health system integration. The fact is we need a plan in order to recover and thrive post-COVID.
Work began on this a couple of months ago with Phase 1. To date, the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee for TBRHSC and TBRHRI has been working hard behind the scenes on Strategic Plan 2026 – having already conducted over 70 interviews and focus groups.
Now it’s your turn – the frontline experts – as we officially launch Phase 2 of Strategic Plan 2026 today. Everyone has experiences and expectations to share that can expand the ways we enhance patient outcomes and experiences. All feedback is welcomed. We need you to engage and challenge this process. Now more than ever, it is critical we get this right. A little further down in this blog you will find links and information regarding how to engage and be heard.
To help get your ideas flowing and generate discussion, we have engaged with thought leaders in a number of sectors both nationally and globally.
These thought leaders 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.
There you will find more information about the process, the thought leaders’ provoking videos, and a link to a survey. If you’d like to participate in a focus group, we’d love to have you. Please reach out to Joy Halfkenny to get on the list: halfkenj@tbh.net.
Below you will see an overview of our four-phase plan to get this done. We are aiming to have the Strategic Plan Directions complete by June 2021, with the full actions and indicators related to each Direction to be completed over the summer for kickoff in Fall 2021! So please don’t hesitate and get involved, be heard, and have a voice.
I know you are getting tired from the challenges over our past year (and counting) of the pandemic, and that is understandable. Between work and pressures at home, you’ve been through a lot. As mentioned, although this third wave (provincially) is pushing us even harder, there is light at the end of the tunnel – and it is imperative that TBRHSC and TBRHRI are ready to hit the ground running post-COVID. This Strategic Plan 2026 will be the roadmap for that recovery, and we need your insights if you are able. Again, here is that link to get you started: www.tbrhsc.net/strategicplan2026.
Please don’t lose your focus. As you know, the vaccine gives us hope, but we cannot let our guard down. I do urge everyone to remain vigilant when it comes to physical distancing and proper PPE at work and at home. Thank you, again, for everything that you are doing and have done over these past 13 months to support our patients, families and the communities we serve. We’re almost there – with our collective courage, hope and resilience….together….we will get through this!
As always, I welcome feedback and questions, and can be reached at crockerelr@tbh.net
For Medical Laboratory Lab Week, Instrumentation Laboratory has offered to present an interactive educational opportunity on ROTEM.
ROTEM is a method of measuring hemostasis quality via the viscoelastic properties of a blood clot and is designed for patient blood management.
ROTEM provides a rapid assessment of clot development from secondary hemostasis to clot lysis by evaluating clot formation, clot firmness, and clot fibrinolysis.
The following is an educational opportunity offered Thursday, April 15th, 2021 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm OR 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
The cash keeps coming in the Thunder Bay 50/50! This Friday another lucky purchaser will take home $1,000 in the 2nd Early Bird Prize of this month’s draw. Huguette Paré was the lucky winner of the first $1,000 Early Bird on March 31. Currently the take-home Grand Prize is sitting at $362,120 and continues to climb with just over two weeks to go before someone will win it!
Last month’s winner – Edna Parsons – was thrilled and shocked when she won $664,885 on March 26. “I had to ask for the amount to be repeated,” she laughed. “And I asked for my ticket number to be confirmed because I honestly couldn’t believe I’d won. I purchased tickets in the February draw, and again at the very beginning of March, but I had this thought that I should buy again on March 18thand so I bought another 30 tickets for $20, and it was that set of tickets that won!” she exclaimed. “I would encourage everyone to grab a second set of tickets.”
“Of course I’m delighted with my win, but it makes a big difference where the rest of the money goes. I’m very happy that the Foundation gets its share to help pay for new equipment at the Hospital,” she added.
$10 for 5 numbers $20 for 30 numbers $50 for 150 numbers (best value)
** Must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 15, 2021 to be eligible for the Early Bird draw on April 16, 2021.
The winner of the Early Bird Draw is also eligible to win the Grand Prize Draw on April 30. Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca. Ticket purchasers must be present in Ontario to purchase and 18 years old or older. The Thunder Bay 50/50 continues each month with the Grand Prize drawn on the last Friday of the month. Net proceeds support the highest priority equipment needs at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Lottery licence RAF1199631.
Shared on behalf of Caroline Fanti, Director of Regional Surgical Services
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is pleased to introduce Stephanie Vincent (Da Silva), Nurse Practitioner, who will support surgical transitions and remote patient monitoring for patients in Northwestern Ontario undergoing shoulder, spine, and colorectal surgery at TBRHSC. She is an enthusiastic and dedicated Nurse Practitioner bringing 8 years of primary and acute care experience to the team.
Born and raised in Northwestern Ontario, Stephanie has an appreciation for expanding methods of care delivery to support patients in the region. Stephanie started her nursing career as an RN within the Emergency Department at TBRHSC where she enjoyed the fast-paced team approach to care. With a passion for Primary Health Care, she completed her Master of Public Health and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner certificate from Lakehead University in 2017. Subsequently, she worked as a Nurse Practitioner at an Indigenous Health Access Centre in Kenora, where she embraced the culture and promoted holistic health care of patients. Stephanie has since enjoyed her Primary Care Practice with the Lakehead Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic in Thunder Bay and developed a special interest for Orthopedics.
With her experience both locally and in the region, Stephanie is excited to help facilitate this new program. She looks forward to developing strong relationships with patients and providers surrounding shoulder, spine, and colorectal surgery and encouraging continuity of care through this innovative program. She is optimistic that this program will prevent emergency visits and readmissions by supporting patients where they feel most comfortable – in their homes.
Please join us in welcoming Stephanie, who will start this role on April 26.
