The Renal department would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the Hospital-wide Christmas food drive campaign for the Renal Cupboard. This initiative has a significant impact on supporting some of our most vulnerable patients, who access the cupboard daily.

The Renal Food Cupboard is managed and maintained by members of our Renal Team – Katie Amadeo (Dietitian), Elizabeth Arbour (Dietitian), Laurenne Stuart (Social Worker) and Marisa Tamasi (Dietitian). As a group, they have established a system to track and follow ongoing needs of our patients.

Past donations have largely come from the annual Christmas food drive campaign, organized by the health care/EMS pray chain and donations from Renal staff throughout the year. In times of increased need, we have partnered with the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) to put on a renal food drive at a local grocery store. Recently, our team has been able to secure donation support from the Kidney Foundation for this cause.

Dietary needs of patients with kidney failure can vary widely, but we aim to largely supply foods that are low in phosphorus, potassium and sodium. With that in mind, all food is accepted and labeled with caution.

Food donations and hygiene items are always welcomed and appreciated. If looking to donate you can connect with any of the above mentioned team members.

Kidney-Friendly Foods

• Oatmeal
• Cereal – Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Special K
• Unsalted/Low sodium crackers – soda crackers, rice crackers, rice cakes (plain)
• Unfortified almond milk (tetra pack)
• Peanut butter
• Pasta noodles
• Rice
• Mayonnaise
• Pesto
• Canned tuna or salmon (packed in water)
• Canned fruits (packed in water)
• Canned vegetables (no tomatoes)
• Applesauce

We are excited to announce that nominations for the 2025 iCare Impact Awards are now open!

The iCare Impact Awards are a peer-to-peer recognition program, aimed at highlighting the behaviours and initiatives that support our mission, vision, and values and strategic directions. The iCare Impact Awards recognize outcomes and impacts, and the people who made those outcomes possible. The program is open to all employees, professional staff, Patient Family Advisors, and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

Don’t miss the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding efforts of your colleagues.

Submit your nomination today at icare-awards.tbrhsc.net.

Staff from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Informatics Team (consisting of Information Technology, Information Systems, Health Records and the Meditech Expanse Program) raised over $600 ($613.75 to be exact) during the recent holiday season for our Hospital’s Patient Clothing Cupboard. The money will be used by volunteers to purchase brand new socks and underwear for patients in need.

Shared on behalf of Jessica Logozzo, Vice President, Strategy and Regional Transformation

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I am pleased to announce Wendy Lange has accepted the position of Executive Assistant, Strategy and Regional Transformation. Wendy will begin to transition to this role effective January 20, while her current role is being recruited.

Wendy has provided executive support to the Chief of Staff and Vice President, Medical and Academic Affairs Offices for the past nine years, as well as supporting the Quality and Risk Management Office for several years prior.

Wendy’s extensive knowledge and experience in her previous roles, along with a Certificate in Office Administration from Confederation College, makes her a great asset to the portfolio.

Wendy will be in the Administration Suite – 3rd level and can be reached by phone at (807) 684-7213.

Please join me in welcoming Wendy to her new role!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Shannon Maki who has provided executive support to me over the last several months – thank you!

We each play a vital role in advancing our strategic priorities and achieving our vision of Exceptional care for every patient, every time. To increase awareness of the progress we are making on Strategic Plan 2026, we are sharing highlights of each strategic priority every quarter. The full list of each “Quarterly Strategic Initiative Highlights” can be found on the intranet.

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Coordination and Support for Patients Who Frequently Access Hospital Services

The heart failure clinic has seen 318 referrals to date from the inception of the clinic in August 2023 to September 2024.

Patients with a primary diagnosis of heart failure (HF) are the patient population selected for this Strategic Plan initiative. In August 2023, the HF clinic established a model that connects patients who present to the Hospital with heart failure to a rapid access outpatient HF clinic to optimize treatment. Patients are identified in the Emergency Department and seen by Rajesh Talpade, NP, and Dr. Akbari to determine the best plan of care. The outpatient HF clinic operates once a week, with patients being seen by Kathryn Bill, NP, and Dr. Akbari to follow up on interventions initiated in the hospital.

Year-to-date, repeat visits for HF have decreased to 18.8%, compared to 24.2% in 2023/2024.

Next Steps

• Plans are being developed to continue and sustain the HF Clinic.
• Preparing to receive Ontario Health home monitoring platform (software and equipment) to resume remote monitoring of patients. This will further enhance care for patients with HF

For a full list of highlights from the latest quarterly update, download the document below:

Q2 Update (July 1, 2024 – September 30 2024)

The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.

No referrals are necessary to access care at the Maternity Centre.

During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.

TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 110 babies born at our Hospital during the month of December. In 2024, a total of 1,400 babies were born at TBRHSC. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre.

January 4 is Nationa Ribbon Skirt Day. Indigenous Ribbon Skirts are vibrant symbols of identity, resilience, and tradition among Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island. Primarily linked to the Plains Indigenous communities, these skirts have evolved and are now embraced across various territories on the continent. Traditionally crafted from materials like cotton and leather, these skirts are adorned with colourful ribbons. These ribbons symbolize beauty, femininity, pride, and storytelling, conveying cultural significance through their patterns and colours, which often reflect family lineage and communal values.

For many people, wearing a Ribbon Skirt is a spiritual practice, especially during cultural ceremonies, powwows, and gatherings. It fosters a deep connection to ancestors and the spirit world while serving as an expression of resistance against colonial narratives, reclaiming Indigenous identity and challenging stereotypes.

The craftsmanship of Ribbon Skirts is an esteemed art form, requiring skill and creativity. The process involves selecting fabrics and intricately sewing colourful ribbons into unique designs that vary among communities. Traditional techniques are often passed down through generations, fostering community bonds and preserving cultural practices. Contemporary artists are innovating these designs, merging traditional elements with modern influences while respecting the Skirts’ cultural significance.

Indigenous Ribbon Skirts are more than garments, they embody a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and artistic expression. Worn and created with care, they serve as living symbols of identity and resilience, bridging the past with the present and representing the beauty and strength of Indigenous cultures.

The priority of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion identified in Strategic Plan 2026 ensures that the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre embeds equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its operations, providing a culturally safe experience for all patients and staff.

For more information on Ribbon Skirts visit: https://ccdi.ca/blog/celebrating-national-ribbon-skirt-day/ or https://www.7generations.org/story-of-the-ribbon-skirt/

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on Forensics Inpatient Unit as of January 2, 2025. All restrictions are in place. Outbreak # 2262-2025-00001

Please share this information with the appropriate staff.

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak will require isolation with appropriate additional precautions.

The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients. Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.

For more information, contact Infection Prevention and Control at extension 6094.

Thunder Bay’s first baby of 2025 has finally arrived.

It’s a girl! Freya Marinoff was born to parents Kescia Yeomans and Noel Marinoff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre at 1:52 p.m. on January 1^st.

The proud parents welcomed their first daughter weighing seven pounds, six ounces, and measuring 20 inches tall.

The baby and mother are doing well.